Before winning the Corporation election, we will win people’s hearts: Tiwari

Popular Bhojpuri singer-turned-politician and MP from North-East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency Manoj Tiwari has taken over as Delhi BJP president on Wednesday. The change of guard is being seen as an attempt to rejuvenate the party that has been confined to just three seats in the Delhi Assembly election in 2015. 

“We all are united and will work unitedly for the people of Delhi,” said Manoj Tiwari emphasising Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas model of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We shall win the forthcoming Corporation elections but before that we will win the hearts of people of Delhi,” he added. The formal ceremony for change of guard in Delhi BJP headquarters was attended by Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan, Satish Upadhyay, Meenakshi Lekhi among other party leaders. 

“The organisations are always subject to change and change gives an opportunity for its expansion,” said Satish Upadhyay, the outgoing president. Delhi BJP’s Dalit icon Udit Raj added: “A large part of the Dalit community in Delhi is from Purvanchal and the appointment of Manoj Tiwari will be of great help in connecting these Dalits with the BJP.”  

Apart from the mammoth responsibility of bringing traditional Purvanchali voters to the party’s fold, Tiwari will also have the uphill task of ending factionalism within the party.

AAP spokesperson Dipak Bajpai said: “BJP has finally found an escape goat in the form of Manoj Tiwari for its much expected defeat in the upcoming MCD elections.” 

Tiwari is the only MP in Delhi who is considered close to the AAP, particularly for sharing a personal rapport with AAP’s Purvanchal face and Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra. In the past, the duo had shared stage on the occasion of Diwali and Holi during the public celebrations. In a tweet, Kapil Mishra congratulated the leader for his new assignment.