MCD poll: Parties yet to finalise list

The long and agonising wait of the ticket seeker for the municipal elections’ list of candiates continued on Saturday, as the BJP and Congress leaders remained inaccessible at their respective party offices amidst hectic rounds of meetings, all through the day.

As a result of the long delay and mounting frustrations, tampers are flaring and bad-mouthing of leaders was witnessed at the BJP office.

At senior party leader Venkiaha Naidu’s residence, where a meeting to finalise ticket distribution was underway, some party workers indulged in slogan shouting, from outside.

Congress workers loyal to MP J P Agarwal and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit camps were also learned to have indulged in clashes.

Meanwhile, BJP election committee on Saturday evening gathered at the residence of party president Nitin Gadkari for a “marathon meeting” to finalise the list of pacandidates. where the candidates list will be finalised.

“They are meeting at 5 pm and (will) finalise the list by late night. About 160 seats have already been finalised and rest will be done at the meeting now. It is going to be a marathon meeting and end only when all the tickets are finalised,” said a BJP state leader adding that he could say so with confidence because Gadkari would go out of station on Sunday.

However, amidst these  marathon meetings, several party workers at the BJP state unit office on Pandit Pant Marg appeared an agitated lot.

“Gupta (state party chief Vijender Gupta) is no good and giving tickets to his people only while the real party workers are being ignored. The party knows that and they fear revolt. Otherwise, what is the reason for not announcing a single name so far,” asked Siddhnath Thakur. He alleged that money was being offered to leaders for ticket.

Mala Saxena, a BJP ticket seeker from Yamuna Vihar (ward number 256) had come rushing to the party office after learning from a news channel that some other candidate was being considered for the ward.

“God knows what is happening. I have been working for the party since past twenty years. Even party MP Shatrughan Sinha had said that I should be given the ticket. But I am not sure what will happen,” said Saxena.

On the other hand, Congress leaders were camping at Haryana Bhawan to finalise their list of candidates. According to information, a heated exchange and expletives were exchanged between two groups of people, loyal to Dikshit and Agarwal. “Not only in BJP, it is happening here also. There was a fight between Dikshit and Agarwal’s supporters.
However, it was sorted out soon. The leaders are working overtime to finalise the list soon,”said a party worker.