Delhi polls: Infighting within BJP delays ticket distribution

NEW DELHI: The Delhi assembly polls is posing a problem to BJP president Amit Shah. Differences and ego clashes between leaders in several constituencies of the national capital are causing hurdles in campaigning and ticket distribution, forcing Shah to use the services of the RSS points-man in the state unit to sort out differences.

Party sources said most senior state unit leaders in Delhi do not see eye-toeye and with BJP deciding not to name a chief ministerial candidate, many were trying to browbeat others in a game of one-upmanship.

Concerned that this may affect BJP’s prospects in the assembly elections, especially as the Aam Aadmi Party is putting up a good fight, Shah has pressed Delhi general secretary (Organisation) Vijay Sharma to talk to sparring leaders and prevent them from working at cross-purpose. Sharma is the RSS representative in the Delhi BJP and holds a lot of clout and backing of the Sangh fountainhead.

“Shah had faced a similar predicament in Uttar Pradesh during the Lok Sabha elections where there were party heavy-weights in some constituencies trying every trick to get a ticket by outsmarting rivals within the party,” a Delhi unit leader said. Known for doing his homework and checking the strengths and weaknesses of his party leaders, he would give a patient hearing to each group and then put forth his views.

Party sources said Shah would tell the leader where he stood based on his work, hold over the constituency vis-à-vis other contenders for the constituency. An example of the infighting in party was visible when AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal declared at a press conference on January 14 the documents against Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay and general secretary Ashish Sood were given to him by somebody senior in BJP.

With senior leaders — Harsh Vardhan, Vijay Goel, Jagdish Mukhi, Upadhyay and now Bedi — fancying their chances of becoming CM in case BJP gets a majority, the infighting is almost out in the open.