Mayoral poll: A day after rebellion in BJP

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4

Unfazed by pressure from within the BJP and party affairs incharge Prabhat Jha claiming that rebel mayoral candidates will withdraw their nominations, the 14 councillors today claimed that they are not going to look back and will certainly emerge winners in the election on January 9.

Outgoing Mayor Asha Jaswal, who filed her nomination as the candidate for the post of Mayor against her party’s official nominee Davesh Moudgil, said they were not going to withdraw nominations, come what may and would come out victorious 101 per cent.

Sources said a total of 14 councillors yesterday told the party leadership in a signed letter that they were against Moudgil as the city Mayor. “It will be a smooth sailing for us as we need 14 votes to claim win in the mayoral election. Fourteen are already there and more are going to support us,” said a senior BJP leader, who is among the rebels. After Moudgil’s name was announced by Jha, only party leadership has decided to make Moudgil the nominee for the post of Mayor.

“For us, Prabhat Jha ji is the high command. He must be knowing whose decision it was to nominate Davesh as the party’s mayoral candidate,” Tandon replied when asked whether it was party high command or the party incharge’s decision. 

Jha, also BJP’s national vice-president, had yesterday maintained that the party was supreme and it was the party’s decision and not his.

Tandon was also accused of supporting the rebel group unofficially. “It is not true. Had this been the case, I would not have brought four of the 14 councillors to become proposers to the party’s official Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor nominees,” he said.

Tandon reasoned that his wife was unwell, which was why he had to leave the meeting with Jha and state party secretary (organisation) Dinesh Kumar midway. 

When asked does he fear action from the party, he said, “This is a superlative question. We will solve the issue amicably.”

On rebels’ move, the city BJP chief said, “It was a momentary step taken out of anger. In political life, there are upheavals but these make us emerge stronger, more resilient and more powerful.” 

Tandon refused to comment on Davesh’s way of working. 

Davesh is a close aide of former Member of Parliament Satya Pal Jain and is in the MP Kirron Kher’s  camp.