The election core committee of Delhi BJP has its way, a number of senior leaders above 70 years of age may not be fortunate enough to contest the Assembly polls this year. In its meeting on Tuesday night, a section of the core committee demanded denying a ticket to the veteran leaders saying young faces should be promoted.
The demand was made by senior leader Nand Kishore Garg. Sources said the committee might decide on experimenting in some of the BJP strongholds by replacing the sitting MlAs, which include VK Malhotra, Jagdish Mukhi, HS Balli, OP Babber and Dharm Dev Solanki.
Sources said the RSS has also been inclined on bringing in new faces while going to polls with development as the major poll plank. Further, former BJP president and Delhi BJP in-charge Nitin Gadkari has also said the sitting councillors, a majority of whom are less than 60 years of age, would be given appropriate representation in the ensuing polls.
While Malhotra, presently the leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, is yet to decide on contesting the elections this year, others like Babber, Balli and Solanki were likely to seek an Assembly ticket for their relatives. Sources said 82-year-old Malhotra, too, could field his son Ajay Malhotra from Greater Kailash Assembly constituency which he represents. However, the veteran leader will be facing stiff competition from former MlA Vijay Jolly and former Delhi Mayor Arti Mehra if he decides against contesting the polls.
If the BJP leadership decides on replacing elderly leaders, another septuagenarian Jagdish Mukhi might have to vacate the Janakpuri Assembly seat for the area councillor Ashish Sood. Mukhi (72), who has been elected thrice to the Assembly, had lost to Mahabal Mishra in 2009 lok Sabha polls from West Delhi Parliamentary constituency. Sood, currently a Delhi BJP Vice President and formerly the General Secretary, is said to have a good rapport with leaders of various factions within the party.
Sources said 78-year-old OP Babber, the sitting legislator from Tilak Nagar constituency, was also pitching in for a party ticket to his son Rajiv Babber who has previously held the position of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha's Vice President and currently a spokesperson in Delhi BJP.