BJP won’t field its district unit chiefs

already denied tickets to the sitting councillors and their kin, the BJP on Wednesday said no district unit president will be fielded in the April 23 MCD elections.

Sources said the central leadership of the party had conveyed the decision to the Delhi unit on Monday.

“During a meeting late Tuesday evening, national general secretary (organization) Ram Lal asked district chiefs to strengthen the party in elections instead of contesting the polls,” said a source.

Sources said at least eight district presidents, of the total 14, were seeking ticket either for themselves or family members.

BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday met the office bearers in Delhi to discuss municipal elections. A party insider said all seven Delhi MPs will convene meetings in their districts with workers to chalk out strategies for campaigning. “Though tickets have not been finalised yet but the party has decided to start door-to-door campaigning from Friday,” he said.

Meanwhile, the newly-formed election committee held its first meeting on Wednesday to shortlist candidates. An official statement said the party will select candidates within two days.

On Tuesday, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari had announced setting up of 19-member election committee. Apart from Delhi MPs, Siddharthan, general secretary (organisation-Delhi BJP), Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel, former state presidents Vijender Gupta and Satish Upadhyay were nominated to the panel.

However, some party leaders have expressed displeasure, saying that no member belonging to minority communities had been included in the committee.

“There is no representation of Muslims or Sikhs in the committee. The party should not have ignored them,” said a party leader.