Leaders sulk as Gadkari decides to give tickets

To prevent ‘touts’ from treating election tickets like merchandise, BJP president Nitin Gadkari has decided to personally oversee their distribution for the 272 wards under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Hamari Jamatia reports.

To prevent ‘touts’ from treating election tickets like merchandise, BJP president Nitin Gadkari has decided to personally oversee their distribution for the 272 wards under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

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This announcement made by him at various public functions has, however, not gone down well with local state leaders, who feel snubbed and powerless.

According to a BJP councillor, state leaders usually pick candidates for local body elections.

Gadkari’s declaration, he said, would give rise to two problems. First, if Gadkari took on the responsibility of distribution of tickets, the local state leadership would not be involved in the election process. Second, the local leadership thinks that they can choose better candidates, as they are more aware of the ground-reality.

“The state leadership knows some of the candidates personally and are also up-to-date with their capabilities,” said the leader.

Gadkari had announced his interest to oversee the election twice — at a get together of BJP councillors at Karol Bagh and at a monthly meeting of party workers at Talkatora Stadium.

A senior BJP councillor stated that the decision has created a lot of confusion among party workers. “Despite the declarations by Gadkari, state leaders are still assuring prospective contestants that tickets will be given by them. This is creating lot of confusion,” he added.