A consensus could not be reached within the BJP over distribution of tickets for seven lok Sabha seats in Delhi on Thursday. This forced the party leadership defer the decision over Delhi as also it left the probable candidates a bit more worried. The next meeting of the BJP’s Central Election Committee is likely on March 15 when filing of nominations for elections in Delhi begins.
Sources said the decision on candidature in Delhi was put on hold after initial discussions as not all members of the election committee were convinced on the tentative list of candidates. “Decision on candidates in Delhi will be taken in the next meeting,” said a senior leader after the meeting that lasted for over two hours.
As indecision continued, several names were being speculated as probable candidates in Delhi. However, some ticket aspirants as well as party workers rued that a delay of every single day would prove detrimental as they would be left with little time to prepare. They expressed apprehension that a delaying tactic could even harm the party’s prospects.
This assumes significance as the Aam Aadmi Party has already declared its candidates and its candidates have been campaigning extensively in their respective constituencies. The AAP had adopted similar strategy in the recent Delhi Assembly polls.
The Central Election Committee of the BJP would meet on Saturday where it would also decide on the candidates for the neighbouring parliamentary constituencies of Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurgaon.
The filing of nominations would go on till March 22 and if indecision continues on March 15; the matter would be discussed after Holi. However, in case of such an event, the candidates will have less just five days to file their nominations. Delhi will go to polls on April 10 and campaigning would end on April 8.