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BJP leaders declared on Tuesday that no BJP candidate, who stood for MCD elections, would be given tickets for the present Assembly elections. Family members of these candidates have also been kept out of the race.
Delhi BJP president Dr HarshVardhan and BJP chief ministerial candidate Vijay Kumar Malhotra made the announcement on Tuesday in a media conference in the Capital. The BJP claims 3,500 to 4,000 candidates have been flooding the office with their CVs to get a berth. Only 70 candidates will be selected.
“All the 272 candidates who had run for municipality elections, regardless of whether or not they won, will not be given tickets this time. Their family members will also be debarred,” said Dr Harsh Vardhan.
Senior leaders clarified all candidates had been clearly told last year that they will not be able to contest the Assembly elections. With this declaration, the hopes of many councillors who lost the municipality elections have come crashing.
Delhi Mayor Arti Mehra had been lobbying with senior BJP leaders including V K Malhotra for the ticket. MCD standing committee chairman, Vijender Gupta, has also been chasing a nomination. Asked if even Mehra’s candidature would be rejected on the same grounds, Dr Harsh Vardhan said, “The fact that no councillor would be given a ticket is enough to answer this query,” he said.
The decision might lead to unrest among party cadres.
“We will not accept defeat so soon. We will still fight for a ticket,” said a senior MCD councillor.
The ballot plot: same issues, no new takes
PRICE RISE
Sheila Dikshit Congress: The party believes sky-high prices is a national issue and will not affect its chances in the Assembly elections. It is also ‘proud’ of the fact that Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit cushioned the hike in LPG through generous subsidies.
V K Malhotra BJP: A poster in its Delhi office declares: Mehenga ration, sasti jaan, yahi hai Congress ki pehchaan — indicating what the party’s predominant refrain will be during campaign. Leader V K Malhotra said: “Prices of basic commodities have gone beyond the common man’s pocket — all during the Congress’ rule.”
DEVELOPMENT
Sheila Dikshit Congress: “In the last ten years, this government has worked relentlessly on infrastructure. The result is there for all to see. There is more electricity and water, better roads in the city. The Capital’s transport system is better, there is less pollution,” state chief J P Aggarwal said.
V K Malhotra BJP: “The work on flyovers and the Metro, which the Congress passes off as its own achievement, began in our times. They might trumpet development, but in reality have not been able to lessen infrastructure problems in the city,” BJP president Dr Harsh Vardhan said.
UNAUTHORISED COLONIES
Sheila Dikshit Congress: The Congress has questioned why the Opposition — despite being in power before — has overlooked unauthorised colonies. It is obvious the party is counting on the 40 lakh ‘beneficiaries’, as Aggarwal puts it, to shore up its chances in the November polls. “Why didn’t the BJP do anything for them?” Aggarwal emphasised.
V K Malhotra BJP: On the other hand, the BJP claims the Congress’ move to issue provisional certificates of regularisation to residents in 1,637 colonies is an ‘eyewash’. Dr Harsh Vardhan said: “They didn’t do it for the last 10 years, but only managed to pull it off a few months before the polls. Moreover, provisional certificates don’t mean anything.”
GOVERNANCE
Sheila Dikshit Congress: The party leadership has claimed its rule has largely been corruption-free and transparent. Aggarwal said the BJP’s recent clamour about corrupt governance is conveniently aimed at the ballot, as it has never spoken up on the subject before.
V K Malhotra BJP: The Opposition, on the other hand, is adamant that the government’s dealings in electricity has not been exactly smudge-free. Dr Harsh Vardhan said: “The Comptroller General of India’s report says there there was a loss of Rs 12,500 crore in the privatisation of power. The Congress government’s own report accepts this.”
SECURITY
Sheila Dikshit Congress: The Congress believes the Capital is among many other cities that is on a terrorist’s map. “We are committed to fighting terror, but the matter largely rests with the Centre. The BJP has forgotten that the Parliament attack and that on the Akshardham temple happened when they were in power at the Centre,” said J P Aggarwal.
V K Malhotra BJP: Dr Harsh Vardhan replied: “The Congress government is both at the Centre and the state. But the party has not been able to make Delhi safe. It is called a city of rapists and incidents like the recent murder of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan is a reminder that all is not well. There is no proper system to check terrorism either.”
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DELHI GOVT SMT SHIELA DIKSHIT CM. THIS GOVT HAS CHANGED THE FACE OF DELHI DURING TEN YEARS RULES FROM "DIRTY" TO "DISTIEST" EVERY CORNER IS FULL AND FILLED WITH GARBAGE, STENCHING, RED ROADS WITH SPITTING, BRT FAILURE AND MANY HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIFE FOR BAD DECISION, HIGH PRICES OF DAILY COMMODITIES, FALSE PROMISES BY FINANCE MINISTER failed TO CONTROL INFLATION AND RAISING his HANDS NOT POSIBLE SINCE HE DOES NOT POSSESS MAGIC WAND. NOW CHANGE IS REQUIRED.
It's pity that BJP leaders have so short memory. Can somebody ask them why did they loose the Delhi elections led by Sushma Swaraj? How can they forget the famous election campaign by the Congress leaders by putting-up the big onion model on the car top? Didn't the BJP lost that elections due to the price rise of the essential commodities? and someone at that time rightly said that rise of onion price has brought tears into the BJP leadres and yet BJP leader Mr. V.K. malhotra says "“Prices of basic commodities have gone beyond the common man’s pocket — all during the Congress’ rule.”
Price of onion dethroned BJP and now spiralling prices of all essential commodities is enough to dethrone the present Delhi Government and the excuse of Yamuna flood is only an alibi. Moreover after a decade of rule a change may bring some better results.
I have been in Delhi during the BJP rule and also while Congress ruled. As I feel, people have some faith in Sheila Dikshit's rule as they already faced bitter experience during the first BJP rule. Price hike is there in every state including BJP ruled states but what Delhi people concentrate is what was Delhi when these two parites ruled and what development took place. I really appreciate Sheila Dikshit though I do not support Congress a lot.