MJ Akbar may get BJP’s Delhi ticket

NEW DELHI: Noted journalist MJ Akbar is being considered for a BJP ticket from a Delhi constituency along with other likely nominees who include spiritualist Mahesh Giri, Subramanian Swamy, former Delhi party chief Vijender Gupta and women leaders like Vani Tripathi, Anita Arya and Sarita Chaudhary.

Akbar could be in contention for seats like North East Delhi - with large jhuggi clusters and unauthorized colonies - or a seat like New Delhi with a relatively higher number of educated voters familiar with the journalist's byline.

If the BJP central election committee takes up the Delhi seats as is expected, a keen discussion can be anticipated as factional equations in the state unit are tense and fielding new faces may run into resistance.

A section of the BJP leadership, however, remains keen on breaking from the past and giving some jaded faces a go-by in favour of new candidates. The other consideration being spoken of in party circles is fielding MLAs and this may mean picking from the existing crop of local leaders. The move to opt nominees like Akbar and Swamy is seen as playing the outsider card in the polls.