Controversy Brews Over BJP Candidates’ Names from East and West Delhi Lok Sabha Constituencies

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 11th March. The announcement of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates for the East Delhi and West Delhi Lok Sabha constituencies has stirred up controversy. Last week, the party announced candidates for five other seats, leaving these two in confusion.

While candidates have initiated their grassroots campaigns in their respective constituencies, uncertainty looms over these two seats. A decision on this matter is expected in the coming week.

Earlier in March, BJP released its first list of 195 candidates, including candidates from New Delhi, Chandni Chowk, South Delhi, West Delhi, and North East Delhi constituencies. Manoj Tiwari has been nominated for the third time from North East Delhi. New faces have been introduced for the other four seats.

The ticket recipients include Bansuri Swaraj from New Delhi, Praveen Khandelwal from Chandni Chowk, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri from South Delhi, and Kamaljeet Sahrawat from West Delhi.

Gautam Gambhir, the sitting MP from East Delhi, has announced his retirement from politics. The party is now scouting for a new face to fill his shoes.

The North West Delhi constituency is reserved. Hans Raj Hans, a Punjabi singer, is the current MP. Discussions are ongoing about replacing him as well.

So far, no Punjabi candidate has been announced, indicating a deliberation on ensuring caste dynamics in candidate selection. This delay is causing speculation. In the previous elections, alongside Gambhir and Hans Raj Hans, three Punjabi leaders were nominated from New Delhi. However, this time, no Punjabi candidate has been nominated yet. Talks are ongoing to field at least one Punjabi candidate in the remaining two seats.

In the race are Pradesh President Veerendra Sachdeva, Pradesh Secretary Harsh Malhotra, social worker and former MLA Jitendra Singh Shunty. Anil Baluni, BJP’s national media in-charge from Uttarakhand, is also speculated to be in the running.

For the North West constituency, discussions involve national secretary Dushyant Gautam, Pradesh Secretary Yogendra Chandel, Pradesh President of the Scheduled Caste Morcha Mohan Lal Gihara, spokesperson Karma Singh Karma, and former Congress member who joined BJP last year, Prita Harit, along with Daler Mehndi.