BJP panel likely to decide on party’s city face tomorrow

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 20

The BJP central election committee will convene a meeting in Delhi on March 22 where the decision on the party’s nominee for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat is likely to be made.

As of now, MP Kirron Kher, city BJP chief Sanjay Tandon and former MP Satya Pal Jain are in the race for the party ticket. Their names were shortlisted unanimously during a meeting headed by Capt Abhimanyu, BJP election incharge for Chandigarh, and forwarded to the central leadership of the party.

Chandigarh BJP affairs incharge Prabhat Jha and Tandon are also expected to attend the Delhi meeting.

“During the meeting, deliberations are likely to take place over the three names. It is likely that the final candidate will be announced on Friday,” said a party leader.

Party sources said the BJP might also spring a surprise by announcing a fresh face. The party could field a sports personality or a celebrity from the city.

“It is all speculation as nobody knows whom the party will rest its faith on at the last moment,” said senior BJP leader.

“Both Kirron and Tandon were asked to work for the party at the ground level and connect with people. They were asked to make canvass for the BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, but were not given a hint on who will get the ticket,” said a party source.

The city unit of the BJP at present is mainly divided in two factions — one headed by Kirron and another by Tandon. Though both leaders deny that there were factions in the city unit of the party, the differences came out in the open on several occasions, including during mayoral polls. The party is going to keep this in mind while zeroing in on its nominee for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat.

Kirron meets chowkidars 

Chandigarh: MP Kirron Kher held a meeting with chowkidars of the city on Wednesday. This was part of her ‘Coffee with Kirron’ election campaign. She said the chowkidars were vocal about their appreciation for Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister. They said Modi was the only progressive PM the country saw after the late Lal Bahadur Shastri. A video of the session was shared with the media and on the social media. TNS

Election commission issues advisory 

Chandigarh: The local office of the Election Commission (EC) has advised political parties and candidates not to involve the activities of the defence forces in election campaign. In the advisory issued on Wednesday, the EC asked political parties to desist from indulging in poll campaigning with propaganda involving activities of the defence forces or display of photographs of defence personnel or photographs of functions involving defence personnel. TNS