Delhi polls: Nervous BJP workers wonder about delay in candidate list

New Delhi: There are just than three weeks to go for the Delhi polls, but the BJP is yet to come out with a list of candidates. This has left the party’s workers and local level leaders in a state of confusion. “The party generally releases the name of its candidates two or three days before filing nominations. This practice can hurt its prospects as we saw in the last year polls (when we fell short of five seats from getting majority). In assembly polls, the candidate matters a lot,” a senior BJP leader told Firstpost, requesting anonymity. [caption id=“attachment_2045213” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image: Sandip Roy/Firstpost[/caption] He cited “favouritism” and “infighting” as the main reasons for the delay. “While one group is lobbying in favour of a candidate from a particular constituency, the other group is advocating for its favourite from the same constituency. As a result, the party prefers to open cards just before nominations to avoid confrontations, he said. There are some other reasons for the delay as well, according to another party leader. “The selection of candidates as per the choice of local MPs, the denial of tickets to those who are over 70 years of age, and the fielding of existing councillors are a few reasons for the delay. But an announcement will soon be made as our leadership is already in talks with the central leadership. Amit Shah has to take a final call,” he said. Candidate selection could also not be deliberated because of the preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally at Ramlila Maidan last Saturday, he further said. Meanwhile, in the meeting of top party leaders from Delhi with Shah, the names of probable candidates were also discussed and deliberations were held on fielding all its sitting MLAs. “The names of candidates will be finalised in the BJP’s Central Election Committee meeting which will be held within the next two to three days,” a source said. The filing of nominations starts on Wednesday. With AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal once again going in for the big fight from the New Delhi assembly constituency, the BJP is banking heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.