Consult before naming projects after Vajpayee: BJP top brass to civic bodies

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) senior leadership has directed leaders in Delhi’s municipal corporations to desist from making any announcement associating late former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s name to any project or scheme without discussing the matter with higher-ups, a senior office bearer in the Delhi BJP said.

The party leadership is reportedly upset with the controversy over renaming Ramlila Maidan in Delhi after the former PM, who died on August 16 after prolonged illness.

Ravinder Gupta, general secretary of the Delhi BJP, said to prevent any possible controversy in the future, party functionaries were advised not to attach Vajpayee’s or other any other leader’s name to any project or plan. “Swayed by their emotions, councillors had suggested the idea of renaming Ramlila Maidan. It should not have been done. It does not suit the stature of a tall and popular leader like Atalji,” he said.

As reports of renaming the ground went viral on Saturday, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the matter, forcing Manoj Tiwari, chief of the Delhi wing of the party, and north Delhi mayor Adesh Gupta to issue an official statement to deny any such proposal.

A Delhi BJP leader said two councillors holding important positions in the North Delhi Municipal Corporation had proposed renaming the ground.

“They admitted their fault before the state leadership could seek a clarification. Now, the three municipal corporations have been asked to consult senior party functionaries before naming a project or scheme after Vajpayee or any other national leader,” a Delhi BJP leader said.