Political fortunes at stake for veterans of Delhi

2003 ASSEMBLY POLLS

Amitabh Shukla

New Delhi, October 11

For the political heavyweights of Delhi politics, the December one Assembly election is another opportunity to flex their muscles. The elections could be make or break for some while for others, it is yet another electoral exercise in their long political careers.

For Delhi BJP chief Madan Lal Khurana, it is perhaps the last opportunity to become the Chief Minister of the state. Sensing an opportunity, Khurana, who has won 10 elections from Delhi in the last 35 years, is pouring his heart out to get the coveted seat and going for the kill. “Delhi is a temple for me and I am a priest of the temple. I will serve the people of Delhi in whichever capacity they want me,” says the veteran leader, the face of the BJP.

It is perhaps the first time after he demitted office as the Chief Minister of Delhi that Khurana has unconditional support from some of his rivals in the party. Union Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma is behind him so is party’s south Delhi MP Vijay Kumar Malhotra and Union Minister Vijay Goel. However, it is not yet clear what would happen if Khurana wins from his Moti Nagar seat but the BJP loses the elections. Party observers say that in this scenario, he would retain his Parliament seat of Delhi Sadar. “We are expecting a resounding victory nothing less. We are not speculating hypothetical questions,” said a senior BJP leader when asked about the political permutations and combinations.

Verma, who represents Outer Delhi, the largest constituency in the world, is aiming for improving the performance of the party in his bastion so that things are smooth when he contests the 2004 general elections. At least for the time being, the former Delhi CM has put his money on Khurana as the electoral fortunes of the BJP will determine his fate too in outer Delhi in the Lok Sabha elections. What makes the task of Khurana easier is the fact that there are no contenders for the CM seat and he has the firm backing of the central leadership.

As ifs and buts and discussion of alternative scenarios and options are part and parcel of any politics, the Congress has more problems to cope up with. Party bigwigs like Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar and J.P. Aggarwal have been in the political wilderness for quite a while. They want a rehabilitation within the party along with their reputation intact as “vote catchers”. Tytler has already been made the media in-charge and will be the party’s face for the election.

As the trio of Tytler, Kumar and Aggarwal are more into the “politics of Parliament”, the assembly elections for them is just a semi-final for the finals of the Lok Sabha elections next year. If the BJP wins the polls and Khurana becomes the CM of Delhi, he would vacate the Delhi Sadar seat, making it easy for Tytler to get entry into the Parliament after several years. Against an opponent as seasoned as Khurana, Tytler found his task difficult in the last two parliamentary elections.

Kumar was denied party ticket by the Congress high command in the last two elections from Outer Delhi in 1998 and then in 1999. After being acquitted from the lower courts on charges against him in the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, Kumar has emerged politically stronger. However, senior leaders say that for Kumar the stakes this time is to get party tickets for a maximum number of his nominees so that he can act as a “kingmaker” in Delhi politics. Despite being in the cold, his support base is still intact in outer Delhi and some of his camp followers have got important positions in the party set-up and posts in government.

Without naming anybody, party sources said that some of the senior leaders want to contest the assembly elections, provided the high command gives them a go ahead. The party is, however, tight-lipped on any such move at this juncture. “The senior leaders and established names of Delhi Congress feel that the Congress is poised of coming back to power and if they contest the assembly polls, they at least have a theoretical chance of becoming chief ministers,” said a Congress leader.

DPCC president Prem Singh too has high hopes from the elections. A contender for the Chief Minister’s post, it will be very difficult for the party high command to accommodate the dalit leader in case Congress wins and Sheila Dikshit is again made the CM overlooking his claims. He is the senior most leader of the Congress in Delhi who has never lost an election in the last 45 years. He can’t be expected to work under Dikshit in her ministry and would be reluctant to take up the job of Speaker which he quit some time ago to resume responsibilities as the DPCC chief.

“It is for the party high command and our President Sonia Gandhi to decide any issue, claims of any leader or settle the disputes. Our primary goal at this juncture is to project the achievements of the Congress government in Delhi and win by a bigger majority than that of the 1998 elections,” said Singh when asked about the political possibilities within the party after the elections. He also refused to comment on the future of some of the senior leaders after the elections saying it was hypothetical.

As the Delhi election is bereft of any major poll issue, the theatrics of politics is bordering on the absurd and non-issues have gained space in political discussions. Speculation is the name of the game in the political circles and all permutations and combinations are being discussed and debated vigorously amongst the cadres of both the major parties.

It will be only on December four, the date of the results and the next few days till December 13 when the new government assumes power, that the fortunes of the heavyweights from both the parties will be known. Whether they break into ecstasy or drown in sorrow, remains to be seen. (2003)