Former MCD Standing Committee chairman Vijender Gupta was on Friday nominated by BJP president Nitin Gadkari to head the Delhi unit of the party. The announcement was made by the party late on Friday evening through a one-line message posted on its official website which stated that Mr. Gadkari had nominated Mr. Gupta as president of the Delhi BJP.
An alumnus of the prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce of Delhi University, from where he had done his Masters in Commerce, Mr. Gupta had started his political career as vice-president of the DUSU in 1984-85. Known for his competence, Mr. Gupta had shot into the limelight as president of the Delhi Abhibhavak Mahasangh, an apex body of parents association that had raised the banner of revolt against commercialisation of education in the Capital. The 46-year-old sitting councillor had also contested the 2009 Lok Sabha election from the Chandni Chowk constituency against Kapil Sibal of the Congress but lost.
While a large number of party leaders had desired the post, in the end it was a race between Mr. Gupta, national general secretary Vijay Goel and former MLA Vijay Jolly. Welcoming the party decision, Mr. Jolly said it was the beginning of a new era for BJP in Delhi as it had chosen a young leader to take the party forward.
