Delhi BJP asks party workers and leaders to begin preparations for by-polls

New Delhi: Delhi BJP has asked party leaders and workers to start preparations for the 25 November by-poll to three assembly constituencies, even as the party appeared undecided on taking a shot at power in the national capital.

A meeting, convened by state party president Satish Upadhyay on Wednesday, discussed the current political situation.

Party leaders believe that amid the current political deadlock over government formation in Delhi, it cannot ignore the by-poll to Krishna Nagar, Mehrauli and Tughlaqabad assembly seats, and in a situation, if the party suffers defeat, it may be a big loss to the party’s image in Delhi.

“In the meeting, it has been decided to start preparations for by-election to these assembly seats. The party has asked leaders and workers not to take these elections lightly and be ready to take on AAP and Congress in the by-polls,” said a party leader, requesting anonymity.

The by-poll to the three assembly seats which fell vacant after MLAs Harsh Vardhan, Ramesh Bidhuri and Parvesh Verma were elected to the Lok Sabha, will be held on 25 November.

“The party is considering the names of possible candidates for the seats and in the next two or three days, it will announce the list of candidates,” he said.

According to the party, it doesn’t want to take any risk and is ready to take on Aam Aadmi Party and Congress and the results of by-elections will decide which party is more popular in Delhi.

“In this situation, if the party suffers defeat in the by-polls, Aam Aadmi Party and Congress may go to the people, saying that there is no ‘Modi Wave’… So the party doesn’t want to take any risk at all for by-poll to the three assembly seats,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed the political situation in the national capital, a day after the Supreme Court’s rap for continuing with the President’s Rule.

Sources said the LG conveyed to the Home Minister that he will call all political parties to explore possibilities of forming a government in Delhi, which is under President’s Rule since 17 February after resignation of AAP government.

The Centre had yesterday told the Supreme Court that President Pranab Mukherjee has accepted an LG proposal that BJP be asked to form the government.

PTI