In anticipation of the Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has unveiled its second list of candidates. The recent list, released on Wednesday, includes the names for the last two remaining seats in Delhi. With this announcement, the BJP has named its contenders for all seven Lok Sabha constituencies in the nation's capital. This time, however, the party has decided to replace six sitting MPs with new faces. Various reasons are being cited for this significant change.
This electoral season sees six fresh candidates taking the field, with Manoj Tiwari being the only sitting MP to be re-nominated by the BJP from North East Delhi. The party has strategically replaced veteran MPs, including Hans Raj Hans and Gautam Gambhir, tapping into local cadres and using 'social engineering' as a pivotal part of their approach. This move is seen as an attempt to deliver a strong message and align closely with the workers on the ground.
While zeroing in on the candidates, the BJP has made its selections with great care, keeping in view various factors such as local demographics and the desire to infuse fresh energy into its ranks. The new faces, such as Bansuri Swaraj in New Delhi, embody the youthful zest and carry forward the party's legacy, while also appealing to the diverse castes and communities of Delhi. The overriding strategy is to reclaim all seats in the capital, a goal underscored by the party's decision to drop six incumbent MPs in light of anti-incumbency and internal dissatisfaction.
New Chess Pieces in BJP's Electoral Strategy
Delving into BJP's revised strategy, the party has replaced twice-elected MP and former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan with Praveen Khandelwal for the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat. Similarly, for the West Delhi seat, two-term MP Parvesh Singh Verma makes way for Kamaljeet Sehrawat, while Ramvir Singh Bidhuri takes the mantle from Ramesh Bidhuri in South Delhi. New Delhi will see late leader Sushma Swaraj's daughter Bansuri Swaraj stepping into the fray in place of Meenakshi Lekhi. North West Delhi welcomes Yogesh Chandolia instead of Hans Raj Hans, and Harsh Malhotra has been brought in place of Gautam Gambhir for East Delhi. BJP has once again favored Manoj Tiwari for North East Delhi.
Municipal Defeat Weighs Heavily on BJP's Decision
It's worth noting that the BJP had been in power in the Delhi Municipal Corporation for the past 15 years. However, in the 2022 municipal elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) emerged victorious. The incumbent MPs faced criticism for not effectively confronting Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on key issues like sanitation, which contributed to the party's municipal defeat. Among the seven MPs, only two, Manoj Tiwari and Gautam Gambhir, were perceived as performing well, thereby securing Tiwari's renomination.
The cut in the tickets for these sitting MPs points to a combination of factors, predominantly their perceived anti-incumbency. Another contributing factor is the apparent dissatisfaction among the party’s grassroots workers due to the MPs’ disconnect with them. Furthermore, the inability to effectively convey opposition to the Kejriwal government's policies to the public and inactivity on social issues were highlighted as key reasons.
Why did Gautam Gambhir lose his ticket?
Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricket team captain and current MP for East Delhi, was more visible in the commentary box than in his parliamentary constituency over the past five years. Despite initiating commendable projects like the ₹1 meal offer and reducing the waste burden at the Ghazipur landfill site, his media presence on critical issues was somewhat limited, leading to his parliamentary performance being viewed as unsatisfactory.
Why was Hans Raj Hans' ticket cut?
Current MP from West Delhi, Hans Raj Hans was perceived as absent from both the party's office and among his constituents. He was also seldom seen in his parliamentary constituency. His lack of performance in the constituency and his limited presence in Lok Sabha were key reasons for losing his ticket.
