Vijay Goel induction changes BJP equations

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 6.

The induction of the Chandni Chowk MP, Mr. Vijay Goel, as Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office has suddenly changed the political equations within the Delhi party unit. It is a clear signal that the party high command has decided to phase out the old leadership and present a new face of the beleaguered Delhi BJP, which is desperately looking for a turnaround in its fortunes.

The preference OF Mr. Goel, a relative lightweight over the former Union Minister, Mr. Madan Lal Khurana and other two senior leaders, Mr. Sahib Singh Verma and Prof. V.K. Malhotra, also signal the marginalisation of these veterans, who once represented the strong Punjabi community, which dominated the city politics for two decades. At the same time, the leadership has sought to convey that Mr. Goel could be its best bet for any future electoral battle.

The 46-year old MP has been able to out-manoeuvre his opponents by his sheer calculated and cool approach. Despite provocations, he has distanced himself from any controversy. While his opponents were quarreling over petty issues, he was all the time taking the right decisions and lobbying for a place in the Central administrative structure. His proximity to the power centre ensured that he was rewarded for services rendered.

The complexion of the local BJP set-up, which was once dominated by the troika of Mr. Khurana, Prof. Malhotra and Mr. Kedar Nath Sahani since the early 80s, has undergone a drastic change and other communities seem to have overcome the Punjabi dominance. The BJP president, Mr. Mange Ram Garg, like Mr. Goel, is from the Vaish community. Unabated migration and changed geographical profile of the city has ensured that the Punjabi community, or its leadership, is no longer in a position to dictate terms.

By ignoring the claims of Mr. Khurana, Mr. Verma and Prof. Malhotra, the leadership has also indicated that future battles would not envisage any major role for these veterans. The party has thrown its lot behind new emerging leadership. Although, these leaders have been successful at ensuring the shifting of Mr. Jagmohan from the Urban Development Ministry, they have lost a lot in the process.

In fact, their own standing in the eyes of the people and their own supporters has taken a beating. Questions are being raised by their supporters, especially those of Mr. Khurana, as to whether it is useful to remain in the party. Mr. Khurana has time and again, been rebuffed by the party and had been ridiculed on many occasions for pulling in a different direction from the party.

Similarly, after the ouster of Mr. Jagmohan, these three leaders would have to toil hard to ensure that the BJP does well in the MCD polls as the leadership had conceded their demands. The results of the MCD polls will surely decide their future and any set back would certainly seal their fate. ``They would have to prove that the ouster of Mr. Jagmohan had brightened the BJP's prospects. The ball is now in their court and they cannot indulge in any blame game now,'' remarked a senior BJP leader.

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