Bharatiya Janata Party Delhi State president Vijay Goel on Monday said he favoured an early decision on the issue of the chief ministerial candidate. He added that the party should decide quickly on ticket distribution as the delay was affecting the party’s functioning ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. Mr. Goel, however, clarified that it was up to the Parliamentary Board to take the decision on the chief ministerial candidate.
“I am not a candidate for any post. The Parliamentary Board will take a decision…. after taking views of the party workers,” he said at a press conference. “It will be beneficial to the party to announce the list of candidates as early as possible. It is also up to the Parliamentary Board to decide when to announce the name,” he said.
Even though he stated that it was good there were many contenders for the chief ministerial post, Mr. Goel refused to give a direct answer on whether he will work with equal vigour if former Health Minister Harsh Vardhan is selected. When asked about the fissures in the party over the issue and whether the central leadership was delaying taking a decision on the matter, he said: “All decisions related to elections should be taken at the earliest.”
Mr. Goel further clarified that contrary to media reports he did not walk out of the Central Election Committee meeting on Sunday. “As a State president, I am not even a member of the CEC. I left on Sunday to go to the Yamuna Sports Complex to attend a function. I did not walk out of the CEC meeting,” he said. “Neither have I indicated that I will resign if I am not named CM candidate.”
He also slammed Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for belittling the growth in Gujarat and making false claims regarding the development of Delhi. “The Delhi BJP had raised 15 questions earlier to which the Congress could not respond. Today we are releasing another list of 15 questions which expose her claims. We challenge the Chief Minister to come out with the truth,” he said. He added that he wanted the three Congress Ministers, who are designated to interact with the media, to answer these questions.
