We are united, says Goel, as Harsh Vardhan skips meet
30 Aug 2013 5:01 AM IST
Grappling with in-fighting and factionalism ahead of the assembly polls, Delhi BJP on Wednesday tried to put up a united front with almost all senior leaders coming on a common platform and resolving to work together to oust the Congress government.
Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel, leader of opposition V K Malhotra, former city unit president Vijender Gupta, former mayor Arti Mehra and senior party functionary Vijay Jolly addressed a joint press conference and said they will work together to remove the Congress government which has been in power for the past 15 years.
However, senior party leader Harsh Vardhan, whose name has been doing the rounds as party's chief ministerial candidate, was not present in the press conference.
‘The party is united. We are ready to take on the Congress,’ Goel said. Listing preparation of the party for the election, he said the Delhi unit will send the first list of probable candidates to the central leadership by 15 September.
Asked about the absence of Vardhan in the press conference, Goel said it was not always possible for all leaders to be present at all the functions. The Delhi BJP has been facing the problem of factionalism as a number of senior leaders had conveyed unhappiness to the party leadership over Goel’s style of functioning, complaining that he was trying to sideline them. Sources said party's Delhi election in-charge Nitin Gadkari had given a message to all the leaders asking them to leave behind their differences and work unitedly to ensure party's victory in the assembly polls slated for November.
They said a 14-member informal group, which includes Goel, Malhotra, Gupta, Mehra, Jolly, senior MLA Jagdish Mukhi, former party unit chief O P Kohli, Delhi BJP general secretary Ramesh Bidhuri and Pravesh Verma, son of former chief minister Sahib Singh Verma, has been tasked to run party affairs. Asked about who will be BJP's chief ministerial candidate, Goel said the Parliamentary Board of the party will take a decision on it. Goel said the fight will be between BJP and Congress, dismissing Aam Aadmi Party's attempts to be an alternative in the electoral contest.
Asked whether he will contest the polls, Malhotra did not give a direct reply but Goel said party will take a final call on the issue. There have been reports that Malhotra wants his son to contest from the Greater Kailash constituency which is being represented by him currently. On whether Kiran Bedi was joining the BJP, Goel said he did not have any information. Asked whether leaders from some other parties are joining BJP, he said party will consider it. Goel said people from Purvanchali community will be given preference in ticket distribution. ‘The party will set a new agenda for development Purvanchalis by holding 14 district level sammelans (meetings) in coming days,’ said Goel. Gadkari, announced that Chhat Puja would be declared a holiday if party was voted to power.
Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel, leader of opposition V K Malhotra, former city unit president Vijender Gupta, former mayor Arti Mehra and senior party functionary Vijay Jolly addressed a joint press conference and said they will work together to remove the Congress government which has been in power for the past 15 years.
However, senior party leader Harsh Vardhan, whose name has been doing the rounds as party's chief ministerial candidate, was not present in the press conference.
‘The party is united. We are ready to take on the Congress,’ Goel said. Listing preparation of the party for the election, he said the Delhi unit will send the first list of probable candidates to the central leadership by 15 September.
Asked about the absence of Vardhan in the press conference, Goel said it was not always possible for all leaders to be present at all the functions. The Delhi BJP has been facing the problem of factionalism as a number of senior leaders had conveyed unhappiness to the party leadership over Goel’s style of functioning, complaining that he was trying to sideline them. Sources said party's Delhi election in-charge Nitin Gadkari had given a message to all the leaders asking them to leave behind their differences and work unitedly to ensure party's victory in the assembly polls slated for November.
They said a 14-member informal group, which includes Goel, Malhotra, Gupta, Mehra, Jolly, senior MLA Jagdish Mukhi, former party unit chief O P Kohli, Delhi BJP general secretary Ramesh Bidhuri and Pravesh Verma, son of former chief minister Sahib Singh Verma, has been tasked to run party affairs. Asked about who will be BJP's chief ministerial candidate, Goel said the Parliamentary Board of the party will take a decision on it. Goel said the fight will be between BJP and Congress, dismissing Aam Aadmi Party's attempts to be an alternative in the electoral contest.
Asked whether he will contest the polls, Malhotra did not give a direct reply but Goel said party will take a final call on the issue. There have been reports that Malhotra wants his son to contest from the Greater Kailash constituency which is being represented by him currently. On whether Kiran Bedi was joining the BJP, Goel said he did not have any information. Asked whether leaders from some other parties are joining BJP, he said party will consider it. Goel said people from Purvanchali community will be given preference in ticket distribution. ‘The party will set a new agenda for development Purvanchalis by holding 14 district level sammelans (meetings) in coming days,’ said Goel. Gadkari, announced that Chhat Puja would be declared a holiday if party was voted to power.
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