Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat has become so significant that BJP’s election committee has now left it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to decide the candidate it wants to field from here.
Sources within the BJP revealed that discussions with the national party president regarding the declaration of nominations within the BJP were redirected towards the Prime Minister’s direct involvement in deciding the candidate for Chandigarh.
However, amidst a packed schedule, the timing of the discussion regarding the Chandigarh seat with the Prime Minister remains uncertain. The anticipated meeting is expected to include key figures such as Home Minister Amit Shah and party national president J P Nadda.
The BJP’s reputation took a hit following the Chandigarh mayoral elections, where Supreme Court intervention exposed irregularities involving nominated councillor Anil Masih. The subsequent scrutiny revealed the BJP’s candidate did not secure the majority, exacerbating the party’s woes. The political landscape in Chandigarh has further heated up with the AAP and Congress forming an alliance, with the latter securing victory in the mayoral elections under the court’s mandate.
In light of these developments and internal factionalism within the BJP’s city unit, party leaders find themselves in a quandary. The decision-making process has been elevated to Prime Minister Modi, reflecting the gravity of the situation.
While local leaders advocate for a “local candidate,” internal discord and group dynamics have prompted the high command to consider external candidates. Initial speculations regarding potential candidates, including actress Kangana Ranaut, have failed to materialize, with even cricketers declining the opportunity.
Former Chandigarh BJP leaders, including Sanjay Tandon, Arun Sood, and former Union minister Satya Pal Jain, have championed the need for a fresh face. Notably, the local election committee proposed names of prominent leaders, excluding sitting MP Kirron Kher, further adding complexity to the decision-making process.
Meanwhile, in the Congress camp, former Union ministers Pawan Bansal and Manish Tewari vie for the ticket, while the local party president advocates for a new entrant. Faced with internal discord, the Congress leadership has deferred the candidate selection to party president Mallikarjun Kharge.
As the political arena intensifies in Chandigarh, the decision on candidates assumes heightened significance, reflecting the intricate dynamics at play within the respective party echelons.