Gurgaon civic polls: BJP biggies throw weight behind candidates to allay reports of rift

With reports of a rift among the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cadre emerging, the top leadership has taken note of the development and has asked all top leaders to stay united and throw their weight behind the party candidates.

The party had on Sunday ousted 24 of its members, including six women, from 16 wards on disciplinary grounds for contesting against the party’s nominated candidates in the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) elections scheduled to be held on September 24.

Marathon meetings of senior party leaders were held the next day to chalk out strategy.

Now, senior BJP leaders, MP, MLAs and ministers are camping in Gurgaon to canvass for the candidates.

In comparison, the presence of senior leaders from the Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal is negligible during campaigns. The Congress is not contesting on the party symbol while only 20 candidates of the INLD are contesting on the party symbol. Both parties have extended support to independent candidates to counter the BJP.

“Our workers are meeting people and making them aware about electing the right candidate,” said Capt (retd) Ajay Singh Yadav, Congress leader.

Known for their political differences, Gurgaon MP and Union minister of state Rao Inderjit Singh and Haryana PWD minister Rao Narbir Singh are campaigning for candidates of their choice.

Union minister of state Krishanpal Gurjar, agriculture minister Om Prakash Dhankar, education minister Rambilas Sharma, minister of state Manish Grover, UDH minister Kavita Jain, and minister of state Nayab Saini have also addressed several gatherings.

Gurgaon MLA Umesh Aggarwal and Sohna MLA Tejpal Tanwar have appealed the senior leaders to campaign in their respective areas.

“There may be differences in opinion but such differences do not come in the way when leaders have to work for the party. We will succeed in achieving the target and provide better governance to the city,” said Raman Malik, Haryana BJP spokesperson.

BJP is aiming to bag more than 30 seats and repeat the victory Faridabad and Delhi civic polls in Gurgaon also.