The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday sounded the bugle for the Delhi Assembly polls with an eye on returning to power after a long gap of 15 years. The Central leadership of the party gave vision to the party leaders and workers but with a strict caveat to end factionalism within the party.
Former BJP president and in-charge of Delhi BJP, Nitin Gadkari using strong words, though in a subtle tone, told party leaders that no infighting within the party would be tolerated and that they would be dealt with strictly.
“There are 1,500 aspirants for 70 Assembly constituencies but the Central leadership is working on the minutiae. Only the worthy candidates will be given the Assembly ticket. No pressure tactics or backbiting will be entertained. It’s the duty of all party leaders and workers to come together and fight to save the country,” Gadkari said, exhorting party cadres at the launch of BJP’s election campaign for Delhi Assembly polls at Talkatora Stadium.
Gadkari’s assertions came at a time when the Delhi BJP is all set to finalise the first list of tentative candidates for the Assembly polls. It is likely to be sent to the Central leadership for approval this week. He, however, said the unsuccessful aspirants should not be disappointed; rather they should throw their collective weight behind the selected candidates to ensure their victory.
Declaring that the power and water tariff would be major poll planks, Gadkari promised that the BJP would make Delhi capable of generating electricity using natural resources. “We will harness solar energy in Delhi and ensure that each household in the city generates its own electricity. The cost of power production using solar power has reduced significantly and it is a more viable alternative,” he said, citing his personal experience as PWD Minister in the Maharashtra Government.
Taking on the Congress-led Government in Delhi, BJP president Rajnath Singh said that a strong anti-incumbency wave is prevailing in the Capital as people are anguished with the 15-year rule of this Government. He lamented that more than 50 per cent of the city’s population was forced to live in slums and unauthorised colonies and that the Government has failed to provide them with proper accommodation and civic amenities. “The mood has been set in the Capital. BJP’s 15-year exile will end this year. We should unitedly fight to dislodge the Congress Government in Delhi,” Singh said.
Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel also counted the ‘failures’ of the Delhi Government as he led a veiled attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for benefiting the Congress party. “After sweeping the municipal polls in all three corporations last year, ABVP’s victory in the DUSU elections is a clear indication of public mandate. The party will go to polls collectively under the leadership of Nitin Gadkari,” he said, adding BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has become the voice of the youth and exuded confidence that his proposed rally on September 29 would be an unprecedented success.
Senior party leaders, including former president Venkaiah Naidu, deputy leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad, leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly VK Malhotra, senior leader Balbir Punj, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Arti Mehra, Vijay Jolly, Vani Tripathy and newly-inducted Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, among others were also present.