Calls it ‘natural reaction': Savita Gupta returns to BJP
The BJP appeared to be in a damage control mode on Saturday with senior leader Arun Jaitley intervening to pacify the dissidents over denial of Assembly tickets. Jaitley said it was the first reaction of party workers and that all issues will be settled in a day or two. Jaitley on Friday sought to mollify the agitated BJP leaders, including former South Delhi Mayor Savita Gupta who later said she was back to BJP. The development came in less than 24 hours of her announcement that she would join the Aam Aadmi Party alleging that the distribution of tickets was unfair.
Jaitley — along with senior party leaders including VK Malhotra, Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel and chief ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan — spoke to the dissidents and advised them to work unitedly for the party. later, interacting with the media, Jaitley sought to play down the protests saying it was their 'natural reaction'.
He said such reactions are regular features during any election and that they would be contained in a couple of days. "Various factors have to be considered while deciding the candidates. However, on being denied tickets, some aspirants have their reservations but we are always ready to hear them and address the issues," Jaitley said. He also justified the tickets given to kin of three sitting MlAs — Pravesh Verma, Rajeev Babbar and Ajay Malhotra — saying these candidates have been working for the party for the last several years.
On Friday, Malhotra also held a meeting with Hari Nagar MlA Harsharan Singh Balli to persuade him. However, Balli is still angry with BJP and may contest as an independent candidate from Hari Nagar. BJP is apprehensive that due to his hold over the constituency, even if Balli fails to win he will cause considerable damage to ally Shiromani Akali Dal which is contesting the seat. Meanwhile, Jaitley defended BJP's decision to give four seats to Akalis saying SAD was the most reliable ally of the BJP and they had to be accommodated even at the cost of sacrificing a seat.
Jaitley exuded confidence that the BJP would form the Government in Delhi. "There is a double anti-incumbency against Congress this time. While at the national level, there is a leadership crisis, corruption, scams and so on, in Delhi, there are issues of price rise in power and water charges," Jaitley said.
He maintained that AAP is a 'new commodity' which has not been tested in the polls. "AAP is getting a substantial share of Congress votes too. Due to anti-incumbency and AAP, Congress votes may hit rock-bottom," he claimed. Insisting that AAP has already climaxed since it came on the scene six months ago, Jaitley said conventional votes and sheer volume of its workers make BJP a formidable party.