JOIN USBJP launches election campaign in New Delhi
Taking note of infighting in the Delhi unit of the party, BJP national president Rajnath Singh on Tuesday made it clear to party workers that, if at all they want the party to return to power in Delhi, they would have to “stay united” for the upcoming Assembly elections.
The top leadership also made it clear to the ticket probables that the party symbols would be allotted to only those aspirants who can ensure victory.
Addressing the party workers at the official function at Talkatora stadium to mark the launch of Assembly election campaign, Rajnath Singh said: “Set aside small issues and keep the unity of the party intact for the upcoming poll. We need to work hard in order to unseat the Congress from power. The BJP has been in exile in Delhi from the last 14 years. Now, the exile would end.”
Rajnath said victory in the polls is crucial for the party. “Delhi is the heart of the country. So we need to conquer the heart in order to register win at the national stage,” he said.
The launch of the election campaign, on party's PM candidate Narendra Modi's birthday, was attended by other national leaders, including former president Venkaiah Naidu, former president and in-charge of Delhi assembly polls Nitin Gadkari, deputy leader of BJP in the Rajya Sabha, Ravi Shankar Prasad and party MP Balbir Punj, apart from a host of state level leaders.
Party poll in-charge Nitin Gadkari, without mincing words, also made it clear to party ticket hopefuls that he had instruction from Rajnath Singh that 'winnability' factor would be the sole determinant for distributing party tickets.
“One chair cannot accommodate more than one person at a time. There are only 70 assembly seats, but there are around 1,200 aspirants. It is obvious not everybody can be accommodated. Only people who can ensure victory for the party would get the ticket. All ticket seekers can put for the their claims, but everybody would have to stand united once the decision is taken,” said Gadkari in a warning note to the party cadre.
Earlier, the election campaign was launched with a special invitee from Banaras blowing a conch for around two minutes, much to the amusement of the party cadre. The party leaders released a booklet containing the campaign programme of the party – which would be used to expose the Sheila Dikhsit government as well as hard selling the solutions to the problems of Delhi that the BJP would provide if it comes to power.
Fearing the dent that Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Admi Party could inflict on the political fortunes of the BJP, the leader also advised the workers to highlight the fact before the electorate—during the door-to -door campaign—that voting for any third alternative in Delhi would in fact help in bringing back the Congress to power.