The Delhi BJP is “confident” of directly contesting more than 40 of the capital’s 70 constituencies even as potential candidates for the Delhi assembly elections are being identified.
Citing internal surveys, sources said, the BJP foresees bright prospects in “40-47 seats” depending on different scenarios. Currently, the party has seven MLAs in the 70-member house. “If AAP and Congress form an alliance, our survey shows that BJP will be neck and neck with them in 47 assembly constituencies as the vote is likely to be split internally between the two parties,” said a senior BJP leader.
“On the other hand, looking at the current scenario where AAP, BJP and Congress are in a three-cornered fight, surveys predict a direct contest between AAP and BJP in around 40 seats. There are only a few seats like New Delhi, Okhla, Greater Kailash and Malviya Nagar, Where AAP is considered to be comfortably ahead for now,” the leader added.
The BJP core committee consisted of its national general secretary (organization) BL Santosh, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, Delhi BJP general secretary (organization) Pawan Rana, Delhi in-charge Baijayant Panda, MP Harsh Malhotra, Manoj Tiwari, Kamaljit Sehrawat, Yogendra Chandolia and senior members. Leaders Arvinder Singh Lovely, Dushyant Gautam, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta and former Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay met at the party’s state headquarters on Monday.
According to the party’s internal sources, Sachdeva’s name has so far been considered for possible selection from Patpadganj, Krishnanagar or Kasturba Nagar. Former DCW chief Barkha Shukla Singh or Anil Sharma from RK Puram; Impreet Bakshi from Jangpura; Satish Upadhyay from Malviya Nagar; Former West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma from New Delhi; Anil Bajpai, sitting MLA from Gandhi Nagar; Arvinder Singh Lovely from Krishna Nagar; Manjinder Singh Sirsa from Rajouri Gardens; and Ravindra Lohia from Delhi Cantt.
The list will be published only after the final agreement from the national leadership this week. “The meeting of the State Election Committee will be held on Tuesday or Wednesday and then the meeting of the Central Election Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Defense Minister will be held till December 14 or 15. The announcement will be made on the same day,’ said the source.