Suspense on BJP pick still on

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 16

Ruling out factionalism within the city BJP as a possible reason for the delay in announcing the name of its Lok Sabha candidate, Chandigarh BJP election in-charge Capt Abhimanyu said, “Shubhmahurat is yet to come”.

“There is no factionalism. All leaders are working for the party and the Central leadership is competent enough to decide the candidate,” said Capt Abhimanyu here at a press conference at party’s Sector 33 office.

On the contrary, the Congress declared its candidate Pawan Kumar Bansal several days ago.

Local MP Kirron Kher, former MP Satya Pal Jain and BJP Chandigarh president Sanjay Tandon are in the race for the ticket.

In the absence of any announcement, the three have been holding their campaign events separately. They are rarely seen together in BJP events.

“People want to know about the BJP candidate from the city. There is a lot of confusion among people as well party workers about it,” said a BJP leader.

A senior BJP leader reasoned that the delay was owing to the Punjab BJP seats, which were yet to be announced.

“Names of Punjab and Chandigarh candidates are expected to be declared together. As the party is yet to declare names of candidates in Punjab, it is stuck for Chandigarh too,” he said.

Meanwhile, Capt Abhimanyu did not rule out that there could be a new face other than the trio.

“Whoever is named, the person must be a BJP worker,” he replied when asked whether a candidate from outside could also be announced.

Earlier, the names of the three were sent to the party high command by the in-charge. However, there have been talks of a fresh face as well.

Three in race

• Local MP Kirron Kher, former MP Satya Pal Jain and BJP Chandigarh president Sanjay Tandon are in the race for the ticket.
• In the absence of any announcement, the three have been holding their campaign events separately