BJP drops sitting councillors, wants new faces in civic polls

Even family members of councillors won’t be given tickets, says Manoj Tiwari

March 15, 2017 12:57 am | Updated 12:57 am IST - New Delhi

Winds of change:  Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari addressing a press conference in the Capital on Tuesday. Also present are leaders Vijender    Gupta (third from right) and Udit Raj (second from right). Special Arrangement

Winds of change: Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari addressing a press conference in the Capital on Tuesday. Also present are leaders Vijender Gupta (third from right) and Udit Raj (second from right). Special Arrangement

The Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday announced that it has decided to drop all its sitting councillors from the list of candidates for the upcoming civic polls.

Even family members of the sitting councillors, according to Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, will not be given tickets to contest polls to the Capital’s three municipal corporations.

‘New leadership’

The announcement was in line with the decision that aims to “develop a new leadership” within the BJP, that has held sway over the Delhi civic bodies for a decade now. The civic elections in the Capital are scheduled for April 22.

The decision, according to sources, hasn’t gone down well with many within the party, including some of its most loyal and senior members.

‘Gujarat model’

Party sources attributed the move to replication of the ‘Gujarat model’, a significant internal exercise and the BJP’s bid to ensure that the civic polls came across as “faceless battle” between the party and the opposition. Another insider pointed out that the move will help stall, if not stem, the anti-incumbency sentiment against it.

“We have unanimously decided to field fresh faces in the municipal elections. Even family members of the councillors and party leaders will not be given tickets,” Mr. Tiwari said at a press conference here. Delhi BJP leaders Vijender Gupta, Harsh Vardhan, Maheish Girri, Parvesh Verma and Udit Raj were also present.

Mr. Tiwari added that the decision was a step towards realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a “new India” driven by the power of the youth.

When asked to elaborate, Mr. Tiwari brushed aside speculations that the step may result in infighting and the standing councillors rebelling against the party.

“In the BJP, people don’t work for posts. Everyone will work together and people will also accept it,” he said.

Punjab, Goa verdicts

The Bhojpuri actor-turned-politician also attacked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying the Punjab and Goa verdicts have “shown the AAP the mirror” and that “it will face a similar situation in Delhi”.

The BJP has 153 councillors in the the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC). These bodies constitute 272 seats, with North and South bodies accounting for 104 seats each.

“An internal survey conducted by the BJP’s national office revealed that the party’s prospects would be relatively brighter if changes were made in close to 200 wards and this was gradually conveyed to those concerned,” said a party source.

‘Old allegations’

The source added that the opposition would be at a loss to counter new entrants with “old allegations” mainly related to corruption.

The source also pointed out that the change affected was in line with a similar exercise in Mr. Modi’s home State of Gujarat, where older faces are increasingly being replaced by younger ones.

“As far as we’re concerned, the party is expected to do better if these elections are fought not by faces but solely by the BJP on one side and the opposition on the other,” added another source.

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