NEW DELHI: At a time when uncertainty prevails in the BJP camp over formation of a new government in Delhi, fight for the Chief Minister’s post has intensified within the party.
Three parliamentarians and two state leaders are wrestling against each other and making all efforts to convince the central leaders to get the top job, sources said. A party source said that three parliamentarians – Union Heath Minister Harsh Vardhan, Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel and MP from the New Delhi constituency Meenakshi Lekhi – are eyeing the top job.
Interestingly, there is also a tough contest between five-time MLA and state senior most leader Jagdish Mukhi and newly-elected party state president Satish Upadhyaya.
Union Health Minister Vardhan is still in the race for CM post thanks to his clean image and support from the RSS. Moreover, he is being considered as the best option to counter AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and the Congress. As Vardhan is holding a Cabinet berth, his return to city politics would be bit difficult, sources said.
The second contender is Vijay Goel. He has been meeting state legislators over the issue and has contacted a dozen loyal supporters in the city. Considered to be close to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Goel has already made a presentation in front of a few senior leaders to grab the top post.
The third contender is newly-elected MP Meenakshi Lekhi. Even few posters projecting her as CM candidate came up all of a sudden in her New Delhi constituency. She is making every effort to convince the central leaders that she is ready to take up the bigger responsibility.