Delhi assembly polls 2013: BJPs Harsh Vardhan fells Vijay Goel. Can the doctor deliver Delhi? BJP has officially announced that Dr Harsh Vardhan will be partys Chief Ministerial candidate for the Delhi assembly elections. Sulking Delhi BJP President Vijay Goel has been coerced into withdrawing his opposition and falling in line behind the partys decision. The BJPs supreme decision making body, the Parliamentary Board, met this morning in the capital to officially ratify the projection of Dr Harsh Vardhan as the partys face for the December 4 polls. But as the India Today Group had reported, the decision to elevate Harsh Vardhan had been taken in principle last week itself, and the delay was on account of efforts to mollify a rebellious Vijay Goel. Harsh Vardhan puts a laddoo inside Vijay Goels mouth after BJP announced him as the chief minister candidate for Delhi polls. The BJP tried to project a picture of bonhomie at the party headquarters after the parliamentary board meeting. An ashen faced Vijay Goel offered sweets to a beaming Harsh Vardhan and the party tried hard to send the message that All is Well within the Delhi BJP. With this official announcement the party has commenced Operation Salvage Delhi and for this mission the 70 assembly seats of Delhi have been divided among senior BJP leaders like Dharmendar Pradhan and Amit Shah who have been given charge of nine seats each. These leaders have been assigned the task of micro-managing the polls for the partys candidates and to mount a rear guard action for the BJP, which is facing stiff odds with just over 40 days to go for the crucial polls. Even though the party is officially denying this, the BJP and the RSS see the Delhi assembly elections as a matter of prestige for the partys Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. A defeat for the BJP in Delhi will be touted by the Congress as validation of the theory that there is no pan-India wave in favour of Modi and that the Gujarat CMs electoral appeal doesnt extend much beyond the jungles of Gir. The BJPs campaign in Delhi has been languishing over the past week, with state level leaders appointed by Vijay Goel suddenly finding themselves directionless. Goel had launched the Ghar-Ghar-BJP programme with much fanfare but with their boss in trouble, BJP workers were looking for clarity on leadership before getting down to the campaign. While Dr Harsh Vardhan has a clean image and is known to be an able administrator, Vijay Goel has a far firmer grip on the partys workers in the capital. In fact most of the present block and mandal level leaders in the Delhi BJP are direct appointees of Vijay Goel. One of the main challenges for Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari and the prime reason for the delay in announcing Harsh Vardhans candidature as CM, was that the party wanted to ensure that Vijay Goel publicly endorsed the BJPs decision and did not privately sabotage the partys candidates. After getting wind of the partys plans last week, Vijay Goel had thrown a shindy and had even gone to the extent of threatening the BJP leadership with dire consequences if they projected Dr Harsh Vardhan as the CM candidate. From left: BJP President Rajnath Singh, BJP leader and CM candidate for Delhi polls Harsh Vardhan and Vijay Goel with Sushma Swaraj. The ferocity of Goels opposition caught the BJP leadership off guard initially. But the Sangh, Modi and Gadkari were unwilling to relent. For them Goels tantrums came second. Their worries were far bigger. They could not afford to let the BJP come third in the Delhi elections. The internal surveys done by the BJP were showing that even traditional BJP voters were staying away from the party and preferring to vote for Arvind Kejriwals Aam Aam Aadmi Party instead. A belligerent Goel refused to back down till Sunday but after a stern word from Gadkari, Rajnath and Modi, Goel realised that he had no choice but to pipe down, else his career in the party was as good as over. The RSS complete faith in Harsh Vardhans abilities is one of the main reasons for him having been entrusted with this responsibility. The RSS leadership has now promised the partys new CM candidate the full support of its roughly 70000 active cadre in the capital. Starting immediately, RSS workers will be canvassing in favour of Dr Harsh Vardhan, who comes from a Sangh background himself. Before this announcement, RSS workers were not enthused about the partys prospects in the Delhi elections and were reluctant to work whole heartedly for the BJP under Vijay Goels leadership. Delhi assembly polls are scheduled for December 4 Delhi assembly polls are scheduled for December 4. The action over the past week, reminded many of the drama that played out between Modi and Advani when Modi was projected as the partys PM candidate for the 2014 polls. But Harsh Vardhan doesnt have the charisma and appeal of Modi. And Vijay Goel is not a patch in stature to Advani. While Modis candidature was announced with over eight months to go for the general elections, Harsh Vardhan does not even have the luxury of even eight weeks. If the decision boomerangs many knives in the party will be out for Dr Harsh Vardhan and all those involved in the decision to foist him over Vijay Goel. Who played what role: RAJNATH SINGH: Appointed Vijay Goel as Delhi President. Was initially keen on going with colletive leadership. Was worried about Goel damaging party prospects. Went along with decision of majority in Parliamentary Board. NITIN GADKARI: As poll in-charge of Delhi, played important role in convincing others about need to project Harsh Vardhan. Initially favoured collective leadership, but later became staunch advocate of Harsh Vardhan NARENDRA MODI: Was anxious about the strides being made by Arvind Kejriwals AAP. Felt party could not afford to go into polls without a CM face. Backed Harshvardhan. RSS: Wanted BJP to project a leader with clean image as Delhi CM candidate. Felt party should have taken this decision several months ago. Wanted BJP leaders to convince Goel before announcing decision. ARUN JAITLEY: Not known to be close to Vijay Goel. Was in favour of projecting Harsh Vardhan from the start. SUSHMA SWARAJ: Initially known to be very close to Vijay Goel, later changed preference and backed Harsh Vardhan to the hilt.
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 11:17:25 +0000