Candidates with DUSU links more likely to make the cut
The election committee of the BJP is going to have a tough time selecting its candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls given that most of its ticket aspirants hold strong links with the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU).
As political pundits put it, student politics in Delhi has always been a sound launching pad for dozens of political enthusiasts who are now the who’s who in Indian polity. The ensuing election is also going to be no exception with top leaders like Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay, former party president Vijender Gupta, State unit general secretary Ashish Sood and former Delhi Aarti Mehra vouching for seats to fight elections — all of whom have held prominent positions in the DUSU.
With over 3.5 lakh people in the Capital being first-time voters, youth appeal is going to be an important factor, which is why candidates with DUSU links are likely to be preferred over others. To begin with, the State unit’s chief himself has been the vice president of DUSU during 1982-83 and sources have suggested that Upadhyay is likely to be given a ticket from Malviya Nagar from where he still holds the post of councillor.
Another probable is Vijender Gupta, who might be given a ticket from Rohini. Gupta’s entry into politics also was through DUSU where he was elected as the vice president in 1984. Buzz is that councillor from Janakpuri, who was recently elevated to the post of one of Delhi BJP’s General Secretary, may also be considered for the seat. Senior BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi was the MlA from the seat until the Assembly was dissolved. Vijay Jolly, on the other hand, is contending for Greater Kailash seat. He has been the president of DUSU during 1980-81.
likewise, the other ticket hopefuls in the party with DUSU links include sitting MlA Anil Jha from Kirari, Aarti Mehra from Malviya Nagar, Nakul Bhardwaj from Patparganj, Gaurav Pandey from Burari, Rekha Gupta from Shalimar Bagh and Atif Rashid from Okhla. While Anil Jha is a two-term MlA, Mehra had contested the 2013 Assembly polls from Malviya Nagar but lost to AAP’s Somnath Bharti. Bhardwaj was the BJP candidate from Patparganj in 2008 and 2013 but remained unsuccessful.
It’s not an undeniable fact that leaders across parties who began politics through DUSU are now some of the biggest politicians in the country. The prominent names include Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, BJP MP Vijay Jolly and former Union Minister Ajay Maken, among others. The Congress too, has several young leaders who are keen on contesting the Assembly polls. These include Amrita Dhawan from Vikaspuri, Ragini Nayak from Tilak Nagar, Amit Malik from Kirari and Tasveer Solanki from Dwarka. All these leaders had contested the Assembly polls in 2013 but lost to BJP and AAP. Sources said Nayak may also seek a ticket from Timarpur. The AAP, on the other hand, has fielded a noted DUSU face Alka lamba from Chandni Chowk Assembly constituency.