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BJP dumps Sahib, brings in Sushma

Santwana Bhattacharya

NEW DELHI, Oct 10: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today announced that Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma had stepped down and Union Minister Sushma Swaraj would be the new CM. She will be sworn in tomorrow.

Today's decision, seen as an attempt to turn the tide in favour of the party less than two months before it faces a largely disenchanted electorate in New Delhi, was taken at a three-hour meeting at the Prime Minister's residence. Busloads of Sahib Singh's supporters heckled party chief Kushabhau Thakre. Announcing the replacement outside the PM's residence this evening, BJP vice president Venkaiah Naidu said: ``Sahib Singh is stepping down from the Chief Minister's office as the party decided to fight the election under the leadership of Sushma Swaraj.''

Naidu made the announcement at 7.20 pm, half-an-hour after Singh left the PM's residence in a huff. Singh and arch rival Union Parliamentary and Tourism Minister Madan Lal Khurana attended the meeting. ``Both Sahib Singh and Khurana proposed SushmaSwaraj's name in the meeting where the Prime Minister, Home Minister, the party president were present,'' said Naidu.

The news caught Swaraj by surprise. She said she had declined the offer as long as her wish was a factor in the decision. ``Venkaiah Naidu called me after he announced the decision to the press,'' a visibly upset Swaraj said.

``Now it is no longer a question of my wish but the party's decision. There is no question of choice. The party leadership has shown faith in my capabilities, so I will take up the challenge.''

Asked why the party was bringing in a new CM so close to the elections, she said, ``That, the party leadership knows. I think the party would have done as well under the leadership of either Sahib Singh Verma or Madan Lal Khurana. Elections are won on the merit of the party's work and the dedication of its workers. No individual can make any difference.''

``Now the elections will be my focus. That is going to be my biggest challenge. Apart from that, the problems of onionprices and general price rise which is not exactly the Delhi Government's doing, will have to be tackled.''

Swaraj was not sure from which constituency she would contest the Assembly elections. ``I do not know. I have just got the news.''

Sahib's undoing