'Central leaders to decide on fresh Assembly polls'

Almost a decade younger than his predecessor, Delhi BJP’s new chief Satish Upadhyay is a perfect example of enthusiasm.

Despite the excitement and the spring in his stride, the 52-year-old seasoned councillor is in no mood to reveal his political ambitions just yet.

Will you contest the next Assembly elections? “This is a million dollar question,” said Upadhyay, who succeeded 59-year-old Harsh Vardhan, who has joined the Union cabinet after becoming an MP.

“I can’t say anything. All decisions about my future will be taken by the organisation,” he said.

The new Delhi BJP chief, who is also the chairman of the South Corporation’s Standing Committee, is diplomatic enough to stay clear of any controversy in his early days in office.

When the issue of a party legislator is raised, who is “reported” to be unhappy with his elevation in the party hierarchy, Upadhyay is quick to fire back a question at you.“Who has told you that this particular legislator is unhappy? Has he told you himself? I have spoken to the legislator personally and he has congratulated me warmly,” he said.

In the same breath, he also quells all rumours about BJP national president Amit Shah and some of Delhi councillors being unhappy with his appointment as the new head of party’s Delhi unit.

“I am here to deliver the goods and will do so by taking along all party workers,” said Upadhyay, a former chief of BJP’s Yuva Morcha.

Cautious not to kick up any controversy in the early days of his new assignment, he refuses to say much if the BJP wants fresh Assembly polls in the city.

“Such decisions are taken by the central leaders of the party and I am sure all legislators and councillors will be consulted on the issue,” he said.

Raring to get started and justify his elevation to the all-important party post, the councillor wants to take the young supporters of the party along in his new assignment.

“There is no better way of strengthening a party than energising the young supporters,” he said, unfolding his plan to take stock of the expectations that Delhi’s youth have from the party.

“After the rollback of Delhi University’s four-year course, the young voters realise that the BJP is serious about delivering on its promises. We want to use their imagination to ideate about Delhi of their dreams,” he said.

The Delhi BJP chief indicated that bringing down power tariff in the city by 30 per cent would be his party’s priority as this was promised in the Assembly poll manifesto. “The Congress misrule and the AAP government’s failure to deliver on its electoral promises have exposed the two, yet we do not want to take any rival lightly,” he said.