BJP’s first ticket list by Sept 15

NEW DELHI: Delhi BJP on Wednesday announced its decision to finalize the first list of candidates for assembly polls by September 15. The decision was taken in the first meeting of the party's election committee chaired by BJP's former national president and in-charge for Delhi election Nitin Gadkari.

Interestingly, BJP state president Vijay Goel took a swipe at Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party immediately after the meeting, saying that the BJP is now ready to take on the Congress, which is its "only rival in Delhi". Sources said that the party has decided to finalize the first list and send it to the national election committee for final clearance by this date. The party also constituted a new "working group" comprising former party presidents, general secretaries and other senior members. A few leaders whose names were left out of the first list of the election committee and core election group finally found their place in this group.

The names of former MLA Vijay Jolly and BJP leader Pawan Sharma were missing but are now in the main election committee. Sources said former mayor Arti Mehra, who was earlier a special invitee, also found mention as a permanent member of the group. The BJP has promised to declare Chhath—a key festival of the community—a public holiday, if voted to power. Gadkari also promised medical benefits and 10 lakh low-cost houses to the poor among Poorvanchalis.