Projecting younger CM candidate could have push prospects: BJP

NEW DELHI: Facing defeat from the Shiela Dikshit-led Congress in Delhi, BJP on Monday said projecting a younger chief ministerial candidate could have helped it win the polls.

"A younger chief ministerial candidate, perhaps, could have helped. Arun Jaitley could have been a better candidate," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters.

He sought to downplay his comment by adding, "This is a personal comment for a personal friend. Arun Jaitley is a dear friend."

BJP had projected Vijay Kumar Malhotra, 78, as its chief ministerial candidate.

Malhotra was chosen over Vijay Goel and Harshvardhan, both much younger to him, for the post by the saffron party with the hope that a senior candidate would be more acceptable to the rebel group within the party.

In the Congress camp, party leader Jayanthi Natarajan said good performance by Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit, 77, was the reason for her victory. "Dikshit is not a young candidate but has a certain appeal to the young voters and her policies on CNG and the environment attracted the young voters," she said.

Dikshit is leading the Congress which appears to be on its way to form the consecutive third term in Delhi.