Disquiet inside BJP over Delhi ballot ticket to Ramesh Bidhuri, talks held on ‘shifting, if not cancelling’ candidature | Political Pulse Information

After remaining beneath the radar for months, Bidhuri was slowly making a comeback. On Saturday, he secured a ticket in opposition to Delhi Chief Minister Atishi from her residence turf of Kalkaji for subsequent month’s Meeting elections.

Nonetheless, a day later, his feedback about Atishi — moments earlier than Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to make his second consecutive public deal with within the capital — and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra triggered a backlash and sparked a chatter inside the occasion a few chance of a lady candidate changing him.

First, whereas speaking concerning the situation of roads in Kalkaji, Bidhuri stated that “identical to we improved roads in Okhla and Sangam Vihar, we will certainly make all roads in Kalkaji as clean as Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks”.

He then focused Atishi for dropping her surname Marlena and utilizing Singh as an alternative. “Marlena has change into Singh … She modified her father. She was Marlena earlier, however has change into Singh now,” he stated. Atishi dropped her surname in 2018. Her father is former Delhi College instructor Vijay Singh.

Because the remarks prompted an uproar and drew a swift response from the AAP and the Congress, Bidhuri rapidly apologised the identical day. He additionally took to X to specific “remorse”, tagging BJP nationwide president J P Nadda, Delhi BJP in-charge Baijayant Panda, and Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva within the submit. “Some persons are making statements on social media for political positive aspects with a flawed notion primarily based on an announcement given by me in some context. My intention was to not insult anybody. However nonetheless, if anybody has been damage then I categorical my remorse,” he wrote.

A BJP supply stated, “Not simply in opposition to Atishi, Ramesh ji’s assertion on (Congress Wayanad MP) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, which he made earlier than the occasion in Rohini (on Sunday), led to his being reprimanded by (BJP nationwide president J P) Nadda ji inside minutes of the conclusion of the programme.”

BJP insiders stated that since Sunday there had been a minimum of two organisational conferences about the potential of both “shifting, if not cancelling (the candidature of)” the South Delhi-based Gujjar strongman, who’s a two-time Lok Sabha MP and three-time MLA.

“Eyebrows had been already being raised relating to the choice to subject him (Bidhuri) from Kalkaji that has a comparatively negligible rural inhabitants in comparison with constituencies similar to Tughlakabad, named after the village he belongs to, and extra higher center class and Punjabi voters. His back-to-back statements have added to those doubts,” stated a senior BJP chief.

Other than Atishi, who broke down throughout a press convention on Monday whereas responding to the feedback, Bidhuri’s different rival in Kalkaji is Congress’s Alka Lamba, the All India Mahila Morcha president.

Sources stated a number of “potential girls replacements” had figured in discussions on the best way ahead however these talks had been “solely at a preliminary degree” in the intervening time. “It isn’t just like the occasion has a dearth of girls leaders who might substitute him to assist the occasion not solely comprise the harm but additionally battle successfully. The AAP has turned the narrative round to its benefit not solely in Kalkaji however throughout town,” stated one other chief.

“Leaders similar to former New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi, state unit vp Yogita Singh, or Manpreet Kaur Kalka can flip the scenario round,” the chief added.

Bidhuri’s rise to prominence

Part of the RSS since childhood — his household is alleged to have “helped unfold the Sangh’s affect” in Tughlakabad village in addition to the adjoining areas — Bidhuri is thought to be a daily customer to the native shakha even now.

In faculty, he was with the ABVP, the coed outfit affiliated to the Sangh, and obtained elected in 1983 as a central councillor of Shaheed Bhagat Singh School in addition to Delhi College’s Govt Council. After finishing his BCom diploma, Bidhuri pursued legislation at Chaudhary Charan Singh College in Meerut.

As his rise via the ranks of the BJP continued, he “obtained near senior occasion leaders, together with Rajnath Singh”, and held essential positions similar to Delhi BJP normal secretary and vice-president.

Bidhuri contested the Delhi Meeting elections on a BJP ticket in 1993 however misplaced and was unsuccessful once more in 1998. He was elected Tughlakabad MLA in 2003 and retained the seat once more in 2008 and 2013, earlier than efficiently successful South Delhi Lok Sabha election in 2014 and 2019.