The two leaders – Dikshit and Gupta – are known for their bitter rivalry and are involved in several court cases levelling charges of defamation and corruption against each other. ‘I am fighting against misrule and corruption of Sheila Dikshit since last many years at various forums – legally, politically and through public agitations. But this time, I have got an opportunity to challenge her face to face in the electoral battle,’ said Vijender Gupta soon after his name was announced by the state BJP.
Gupta had expressed a desire to contest from Shalimar Bagh, Rohini or Shakur Basti, which are considered to be saffron citadels. However, the party was of the opinion that it could not allow the battle over New Delhi to be reduced to that between Dikshit and Kejriwal. ‘If we are taking on misrule of the Dikshit government, we should also strongly contest the re-election of the leader of this government,’ said the party’s chief ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan, who himself would be contesting from his traditional Krishna Nagar seat in east Delhi.
In another significant development, the party’s long-time leader, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, the leader of opposition in outgoing assembly, finally decided to bid goodbye to active politics. However, his son Ajay Malhotra has been given ticket from the veteran leader’s Greater Kailash seat only. In addition, the party has decided to repeat all its sitting MLAs except for Malhotra, Harsharan Singh Balli and OP Babbar.
Gupta had expressed a desire to contest from Shalimar Bagh, Rohini or Shakur Basti, which are considered to be saffron citadels. However, the party was of the opinion that it could not allow the battle over New Delhi to be reduced to that between Dikshit and Kejriwal. ‘If we are taking on misrule of the Dikshit government, we should also strongly contest the re-election of the leader of this government,’ said the party’s chief ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan, who himself would be contesting from his traditional Krishna Nagar seat in east Delhi.
In another significant development, the party’s long-time leader, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, the leader of opposition in outgoing assembly, finally decided to bid goodbye to active politics. However, his son Ajay Malhotra has been given ticket from the veteran leader’s Greater Kailash seat only. In addition, the party has decided to repeat all its sitting MLAs except for Malhotra, Harsharan Singh Balli and OP Babbar.