New Delhi, Mar 26: Amid much haggling for tickets, the BJP announced its 272 candidates for the municipal polls on the last day of filing nominations today omitting several prominent councillors.
Though Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta, presently a councillor, opted out of the contest after his ward was reserved for women, he managed to get a seat for his wife Shobha Vijender, who was embroiled in a controversy over alleged irregularities in her NGO Sampoorna. A section of party workers were opposed to giving ticket to her.
Among those who were not given tickets were former Mayors Arti Mehra and Prithvi Raj Swahney and prominent BJP councillors like Jagdish Mamgain and V K Monga.
Delhi Mayor Rajni Abbi has been fielded from a general seat Mukherjee Nagar. A total of 139 women were fielded by BJP as against Congress' over 140.
The list also has five Muslims as candidates in wards Jama Masjid, Minto Road, Turkman Gate, Qasabpura (Women) and Zakir Nagar.
The ticket distribution process was marred by protests and party workers even heckled some leaders. A senior Delhi BJP leader, a councillor who did not figure in the list, alleged favouritism.
“Gupta managed to get ticket for his wife. Many members of the election committee were freshers in the panel and did not have the experience for this job. Even Gupta got into the committee for the first time,” the leader alleged.
