BJP starts searching for new president in Delhi

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 18

The BJP, it seems, has made up its mind to relieve Delhi Northeast MP Manoj Tewari of his charge as the state unit president.

Sources say BJP general secretary Murlidhar Rao and women wing president Viajya Rahatkar have sought the views of Delhi leaders on the matter.

It is unlikely that after the BJP’s embarrassing defeat at the hands of Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP in the recent Delhi Assembly elections the leadership would like to give Tewari another chance.

“With the party aiming for a third consecutive run in the 2022 municipal corporation elections, it would like to take the views of everyone before it makes the choice,” the sources add

In any case the change is also long overdue as Tewari, whose tenure ended last year, was given an extension due to the Delhi elections. However, the way the BJP fared in the recent elections and past experiences prove that the deeply divided unit needs a complete overhaul and a leader who can take everyone along. .

Apparently, at an internal meeting Home Minister Amit Shah said his assessment that the Congress will get 18 to 20 per cent of votes to BJP’s advantage was wrong. The BJP needs to start working with the aim of 51 per cent vote share and a situation where it might have to engage in direct fight with a strong regional party, not just in Delhi but in other states as well, he is believed to have said.

Something equally surprising was the way various communities voted. While a large number of Sikh and Punjabi community chose AAP over BJP, Purvanchali voters — who Tewari represents — opted for the BJP. “It proves that representation from all sections is needed in the party rife with factionalism,” say observers

Meanwhile, several names are doing the rounds but it seems party president JP Nadda wants a young new face, preferably with the background of DU politics to fill the existing gaps.