Sending a strong signal to the rival Congress camp, the BJP has fielded former state unit president Vijender Gupta against chief minister Sheila Dikshit in New Delhi constituency in the assembly polls.
Dikshit represents New Delhi constituency in the outgoing assembly. Aam Admi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal will also enter the electoral fray from here.
Gupta’s nomination was announced the BJP’s central election committee (CEC), which released a list of 62 candidates for the Delhi assembly polls. Out of the 70 assembly seats, the BJP has given four seats to the Siromani Akali Dal (SAD). The committee has authorised party president Rajnath Singh to nominate candidates for remaining seats.
Announcing the names of the candidates, BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar said chief ministerial candidate Dr Harsh Vardhan would contest from Krishna Nagar constituency. Almost all the sitting MLAs of the party have been given ticket except those whose sons have been fielded.
The SAD will field its candidates from Hari Nagar, Shahdara, Kalkaji and Rajouri Garden constituencies.
Earlier, there was speculation that some Bollywood celebrity would be fielded against Dikshit. A senior party leader said that with Gupta’s candidature it’s now clear that the BJP is fielding one of its strongest candidates to take on the chief minister.
During his tenure as the party’s state unit president, Gupta continuously attacked Dikshit’s government for its failure on various fronts. He also fought legal battle against Dikshit. In 2009, Gupta contested the Lok Sabha election against union minister Kapil Sibal from Chandni Chowk.
After the announcement, Gupta said the party has given an opportunity to take on Dikshit in the electoral battle. “She will not only be an outgoing chief minister, but after the elections she will also be an ex-MLA,” he said.
Kumar said the party has given ticket to four women candidates, one Muslim and seven from the Schedule Caste.
Son of three senior leaders have also been given ticket. Ajay Malhotra, son of senior BJP leader VK Malhotra, is contesting from Greater Kailash, a seat currently represented by senior Malhotra.
Pravesh Verma, son of former chief minister Sahib Singh Verma, will contest from Mehrauli. Rajiv Babbar, state unit spokesperson and son of sitting MLA from Tilak Nagar OP Babbar, is the party candidate from the same constituency his father has been representing since 1993.
However, son of former chief minister of Delhi Madan Lal Khurana has been left out.
The BJP central election committe has also finalised candidates for 64 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh and one legislative council seat in Maharastra. “Chandrakant Patil is the party candidate for the Maharastra legislative council election,” Kumar added.
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