Is Delhi BJP about to have its first woman chief?

NEW DELHI: Women leaders may this time stake claim for post of Delhi BJP president in view of the fact the city unit has never been headed by a female in the past.

An undercurrent in this regard is already being felt, party sources said, though there is likelihood of present president Satish Upadhyay being given another term to head Delhi unit.

The names of some women leaders including New Delhi MP Meenakashi Lekhi, former Delhi mayor Dr Rajni Abbi, state vice president Shikha Rai and general secretary Rekha Gupta are also doing rounds as contenders for the post of president, a party insider said.

The process for election of the new president of Delhi BJP will pick up pace with the election of Amit Shah as national president of the party for a second term today.

Though Upadhyay remains the frontrunner, names of other party leaders including those from Delhi BJP as well as the party's national executive have also come up.

"The long list of party leaders in the race include the names of Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel, national secretary Srikant Sharma, UP organisational election incharge Mahendra Pandey, Delhi BJP general secretary Ashish Sood, as well as Delhi MPs Ramesh Bidhuri and Pravesh Verma," sources said.

Pitted against this strong line of male contenders, the women leaders of the party are trying to fortify their chances seeking help of the top BJP and RSS leadership, the source added.