To scuttle the attempts of the Opposition party to spin ‘surprises’ in the Mayor’s election for South Delhi Municipal Corporation on Tuesday, Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel, on Monday, took the charge of ‘election management’ upon himself.
Goel, held a meeting of party councillors at the Civic Centre in order to keep its flock together, fearing cross-voting by party councillors in favour of the Congress candidate in the election. Independent councillors, who had supported BJP in the Mayor election last year, were also invited by BJP leaders. However, several of them chose not to attend the meet.
According to sources, Goel cautioned the councillors not to go against the party line. “A veiled threat was offered to the councillors stating that ultimately the party would come to know about the defector. Action would be taken against such members. In a message that was meant for councillors who might switch loyalties, the councillors were assured that their interests would be duly taken care of,” said a BJP councillor, requesting anonymity.
While the magic number is 53 in the House of 104, BJP has 44 members in South Corporation. On the other hand, the Opposition party Congress has 29 members in the House. Apart from this, five Member of Parliament and five members of Delhi legislative Assembly from the area are also eligible to vote, which takes the total vote to 114. If all the MPs and MlAs exercise their franchise, the ruling party would have to garner 58 votes. last year, outgoing Mayor Savita Gupta got 64 votes.
Sarita Chaudhary is the candidate for BJP, whereas, first time Councilor Abhishek Dutt is the Congress candidate for the post. Hectic deliberations were being held by senior leaders of both the BJP and Congress. Absence of anti-defection law in local bodies and voting happening through secret ballot has kept both the parties on their toes.
BJP leaders, however, sounded confidence about victory of their candidate. “We have the numbers. Five members of BSP and six members would vote for us,” said leader of House, Subhash Arya. BJP has offered chairmanship of Central zone to NCP. leader of Opposition Farhad Suri said they are in touch with the Independents as well as NCP councillors. “We would get more votes than what we got last year,” said Suri.