The Bharatiya Janata Party used a rally here on Monday to present a united front ahead of the Assembly elections. Led by BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani, the entire top rung of BJP leadership was present at ‘Vijay Sankalp’ rally, thus putting to rest hints of dissent on selection of Vijay Kumar Malhotra as the party’s chief ministerial candidate.The rally was touted as a show of strength after Malhotra was named for the CM post recently. Besides Advani and Sushma Swaraj, on the dais with Malhotra were his two contenders for the CM nomination: Delhi BJP president Dr Harsh Vardhan and party national general secretary Vijay Goel.Confident of getting the mandate after 10 years of Congress administration in Delhi, Advani assured the party’s capacity ensure a secure the Capital by effectively dealing with terror. He took the opportunity to recall his years with Malhotra at the Lok Sabha, and said though he would miss the latter’s presence at the House, he was “extremely happy” about the party’s choice. He said Malhotra would make a “worthy” chief minister if elected.Advani also recounted how the party, then Bharatiya Jan Sangh, had swept the Assembly polls in 1958 with Malhotra leading from the front. Advani named Malhotra along with K N Sahani, as one of the two major political influences in Delhi when he settled into a political career in the Capital.Malhotra, in turn, urged Advani — “when he becomes the Prime Minister” — to give full statehood to Delhi, and thereby put the police under the CM’s direct control. Sushma Swaraj, meanwhile, criticised Dikshit for her controversial reaction on the death of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan. Swaraj said she was “shocked” to hear such a comment, especially from a “woman chief minister”. She also recalled that Malhotra’s tenure as Chief Executive Councillor 40 years ago had witnessed “actual developmental work” in Delhi. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Jagdish Mukhi was not present in the rally — his second consecutive absence from a major party meeting of late. He was also absent when the party announced Malhotra as its chief ministerial candidate.Mayor wooing Malhotra for Assembly poll ticket?The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), it seems, has rediscovered V K Malhotra. Just after the Lok Sabha MP’s name was announced as BJP’s candidate for the chief minister’s post, the senior leader has become part of all functions organised by the civic agency.His face is also part of posters and hoardings put up by the municipality across the city welcoming his candidature. But party sources said the move is primarily Mayor Arti Mehra’s way to get a ticket for upcoming Assembly elections. Malhotra was chief guest at the Gandhi Jayanti Mela on October 2, and inaugurated the road revamp projects at Greater Kailash and Rani Jhansi Road on October 4 and October 5, respectively. On October 8, Malhotra is scheduled to lay foundation stone of a new municipal hospital at Kalkaji. But Mehra denied that Malhotra is being feted for any particular reason. She said the civic agency has every right to invite senior leaders for such functions: “Malhotra-ji has been working for Delhi for the past several decades. We are there to support him.”But party sources said Mehra is in the race to get an MLA ticket. “She has been in Malhotra’s good books,” a BJP leader said. “Malhotra has been an MP from her area and they share a close bond. It will not be surprising if Mehra gets a ticket in the coming elections.”— ROHINEE SINGH
