Suspense over the BJP’s choice for the sole reserved Parliamentary constituency in the Capital that triggered a ruckus at its State headquarters late on Monday night, concluded in a photo finish a day later.
Sitting North West Delhi MP Udit Raj, who claimed he was “cheated” by the party’s senior leadership, which “deliberately” kept him on tenterhooks till late afternoon on Tuesday – the last day to file nominations for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi – was replaced by Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans in what party insiders claimed was a successful exercise in “outwitting him”.
A “deeply hurt” Mr. Raj questioned the party’s rationale behind its decision to replace him with Mr. Hans and alleged that his “performance and capability” had been overlooked.
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Party sources, however, claimed the reason behind its decision was Mr. Raj’s alleged attempt at “securing a four-seat package deal” with it not only on his own turf but on “three more seats” across the country.
“I have been cheated by the party. Throughout Monday, they [senior BJP leaders] kept telling me to hold on and assured me that the party would decide the matter in my favour. The same assurance was given to me till as late as 1 p.m. on Tuesday and look what finally happened,” Mr. Raj told The Hindu .
As Mr. Raj awaited word from the party, Mr. Hans was in the process of filing his nomination at the DC office in Kanjhawala.
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A party source claimed Mr. Raj had consistently over the last five months approached the party’s national leadership “on multiple occasions” staking claim to two seats in Uttar Pradesh and one seat in Rajasthan in addition to his own in Delhi on the basis of his credentials as “the tallest Dalit leader” in the BJP.
“The BJP had no qualms in fielding him again from North West Delhi but was left with no choice other than replacing him because he was bargaining for three more seats, making it a total of four across the country. It was too big a demand,” a party source claimed.
A party insider said Mr. Raj had approached BJP national chief Amit Shah and “demanded” that the party give tickets to candidates of his choice in U.P. and Rajasthan citing his decision in 2014 to merge his Indian Justice Party with the BJP.
BJP leadership irked
What also irked the party’s national leadership, which was on the brink of announcing Mr. Hans as his replacement before being forced into a huddle to decide how to navigate through the situation as Mr. Raj’s supporters descended on the party’s State headquarters late on Monday evening, was the “message” that his “anti-party statements” would send to “the people” per se.
“He lost his nerve and tried to force the party’s hand; the party could not under any circumstances let its image get dented in this manner. Mr. Hans’ nomination papers were being prepared even as Mr. Raj’s supporters created a scene at the Delhi office on Pant Marg. It was decided that the party will outwit Mr. Raj instead of confronting him head on,” a source claimed.
Meanwhile, even as he chose not to disclose his future course of action, party sources claimed they apprehended that Mr. Raj would attempt an anti-BJP campaign in North West Delhi for which it was “prepared”.
“I am waiting for my people to tell me what to do next,” Mr. Raj said. When asked what message these goings-on had sent to his constituents and how these would impact the BJP’s image, Mr. Raj said: “The election results will speak for themselves.”