In a major embarrassment to the BJP, Independent ex-MlA from Mundka, Rambir Shokeen, who was supposed to join the party on Friday, backed off at the last moment. Sources within the party said Shokeen is unhappy with the State unit’s top leadership for “not being heard”. In an apparent discontent with the BJP, speaking to The Pioneer, Shokeen alleged that the party leaders never invited him formally for joining the party.
In a bid to induct Shokeen, the Delhi BJP had organised a media briefing at 3 pm on Thursday which was to be presided over by State unit in-charge Prabhat Jha. However, as he did not turn up, the party had to rearrange the event and invited New Delhi MP Meenakshi lekhi to discuss on the issue of women’s safety in the national Capital in the wake of the Uber cab rape incident. The names of the candidates for election to Delhi Cantonment Board were also announced by the party.
Party insiders have suggested that Shokeen has been asking for a ticket for his wife Reeta who is a councillor in the local civic body. “Rambir Shokeen has been in regular talks with Prabhat Jha and BJP chief Satish Upadhyay. The party is welcoming everyone, but it cannot guarantee tickets to them as it is not in the hands of the Delhi leaders. Candidate selection is in the hands of the party’s parliamentary and the Election Committee,” said a senior BJP leader.
However, Shokeen, the lone Independent MlA of the fifth Delhi Assembly, which was dissolved last week, alleged “miscommunication” from the party’s end. “I have been meeting Prabhat Jha and Upadhyay, but they never gave me any time or date to join the party. At 2.45 pm on Thursday I was asked if I was on my way to the Press conference when I had no idea about it,” he said.
When asked about talks of him demanding a ticket, he denied at once and said, “I do not want to join the BJP on any condition. I want to work under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National President Amit Shah.”
The BJP in the Press conference informed that a delegation of the party met Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday morning.