The following Delhi Chief Minister will, in all probability, be chosen from amongst BJP’s elected MLAs and never MPs, with names like Rekha Gupta, Ashish Sood, Satish Upadhyay and Shikha Roy being mentioned as potential candidates, The Indian Specific has learnt.
Since Saturday, a number of conferences have taken place between the RSS and BJP prime brass, attended by Union House Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Nationwide Normal Secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh to debate frontrunners for induction into the Cupboard.
In accordance with sources, the brand new Cupboard’s composition is predicted to mirror Delhi’s numerous social material, drawing representatives from numerous communities, together with Punjabi, Baniya and Purvanchali, in addition to making certain illustration for ladies, SC, OBC, and Brahmin communities.
Among the many standards being mentioned to shortlist names are a “clear public picture”, not being greater than 60 years of age and “choice” for leaders whose rise and fall has been tied to BJP-RSS organisation within the Capital since they entered lively politics.
A BJP chief confirmed that the Chief Minister’s put up will go to a serving MLA fairly than an MP. “The celebration management, nevertheless, hasn’t fully closed the door on together with latest defectors like Arvinder Singh Pretty within the Cupboard,” a senior chief mentioned.
Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of an occasion on Thursday, BJP nationwide president J P Nadda mentioned, “Choosing the Delhi CM won’t be a tricky name in any respect. Will probably be determined inside quarter-hour when the celebration management meets.”
The choice course of is predicted to choose up tempo after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from his overseas go to over the weekend, mentioned sources.
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Ashish Sood is among the many prime contenders for the CM’s put up, sources mentioned. A protracted-standing organisational man, he had served as councillor in addition to Chief of the Home within the erstwhile South MCD and was additionally the celebration Goa in-charge and J&Okay co-incharge.
Thought-about near Nadda and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Sood gained from Janakpuri by a margin of virtually 19,000 votes this election. In 2020, he had misplaced the seat.
He was common secretary of the BJP youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), earlier than being elevated as its nationwide vice chairman. In 2008, he was appointed secretary of Delhi BJP and later common secretary, earlier than being elected as a councillor within the then-SDMC.
In accordance with sources within the BJP, what works in Sood’s favour is that he’s one in every of Delhi BJP’s distinguished Punjabi-speaking leaders and enjoys backing from the RSS. He’s additionally perceived to be near the BJP’s prime management. His political journey started with ABVP earlier than he joined the celebration ranks.
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One other celebration chief mentioned the CM put up may go to a girl. “The CM is almost definitely to be chosen from amongst girls in addition to Punjabi and Jat leaders. Proper now, the celebration appears to be leaning in direction of making a Punjabi chief the CM.”
“Senior leaders with a long time of legislative expertise comparable to Vijender Gupta and Mohan Singh Bisht will likely be given vital obligations, almost definitely within the Delhi Meeting,” a supply added.
One other senior chief thought-about to be within the operating for the CM put up is Rekha Gupta, an outdated RSS hand who joined the Sangh’s college students wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, paving the best way for her to be elected as DUSU president within the late Nineteen Nineties.
Along with being the secretary of BJYM’s Delhi unit, which she additionally served because the nationwide secretary, Gupta has been elected as a councillor, common secretary of Delhi BJP’s Mahila Morcha and a member of the BJP’s Nationwide Govt.
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Shikha Roy, a two-time BJP councillor from Better Kailash, who hit headlines after she unfurled the Tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar throughout a curfew in 2011, can also be being thought-about as a major frontrunner. She had unsuccessfully contested from Kasturba Nagar constituency in 2015 and Better Kailash within the 2020 polls. Along with serving because the Chief of the Home, she was chairperson of the then SDMC Standing Committee and held organisational posts comparable to secretary, common secretary and vice-president of the Delhi BJP.
Satish Upadhyay, former Delhi BJP president and vice-chairperson of the New Delhi Municipal Council, can also be being thought-about a frontrunner. He has served in organisational posts comparable to Delhi BJP vice-president and chairperson of the SDMC Standing Committee, amongst others.
