Eyeing a return to power in the capital after a gap of 15 years, the BJP on Wednesday said it would announce its chief ministerial candidate “soon” for the Assembly polls slated for November.
BJP’s Delhi election in charge Nitin Gadkari said the party’s parliamentary board will take a decision on the chief ministerial candidate soon. “We want to finalise the chief ministerial candidate as soon as possible. The BJP parliamentary board will make a final decision on the issue,” Mr Gadkari said.
Asked whether former health minister Harsh Vardhan could be BJP’s candidate for the top post, the former BJP president said no name has been finalised yet.
“No decision has been made so far. The consultation process is on. I am also holding consultation with senior Delhi BJP leaders,” Mr Gadkari said.
Party sources said Vardhan, who is considered close to the RSS, is a front-runner as the party’s chief ministerial candidate as he has a clean image and could be acceptable to all warring factions.
When asked about the issue, Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel said the party will take a decision at an “appropriate time”.
The sources said the party will announce its chief ministerial candidate “soon” as delaying it may create confusion among the party workers.
The BJP had announced V.K. Malhotra’s name as its candidate for the top post just ahead of the 2008 Assembly polls.
The Delhi BJP chief had a meeting with Mr Gadkari earlier in the day where various issues relating to the party’s preparations for the elections were discussed.
Mr Goel said there was “no discontent” among the leaders and everybody was working unitedly to ensure victory of the party in the assembly polls.
“There is no infighting in the party. All the leaders are working together to ensure victory of the party,” Mr Goel said.