Delhi Assembly polls: Little enthusiasm over list, protests at BJP office

The enthusiasm that should have followed the announcement of the names of candidates by the BJP was missing on Thursday as the supporters of those who have been denied tickets gathered at the party office to denounce the list.



Disgruntled party workers, upset over the selection of candidates, shouted slogans and waved flags at the party office. Party workers from Shakur basti, Seelampur and Mehrauli also protested outside former BJP president and Delhi election in-charge Nitin Gadkari\'s residence.



In party circles across the city, the common sentiment was that the BJP was unlikely to win a large number of seats with the present list.



Party leaders speculated on the number of seats the BJP was going to win. Many senior leaders said that of the 58 seats for which candidates have been announced, the party was likely to win in only 20.



Describing several candidates as \"weak\", other leaders feared the party could end up losing 27 seats and that, in 11 seats, the party may or may not win. \"In these 11 seats, the candidates will face a tough fight. These are Burari, Trinagar, Wazirpur, Chandni Chowk, Ballimaran, Malviya Nagar, R K Puram, Badarpur and Babarpur,\" a party leader said.



Several leaders warned that giving tickets to new faces who do not have any standing in the party may cost the BJP dear in the elections.



Many leaders believed that while finalising the names of candidates, the party brass had not taken into account the \'AAP factor\' and warned that Arvind Kejriwal\'s party should not be taken lightly.



\"If we are liberal in giving the BJP its due, the party will at most win 30 seats,\" a very senior leader said.



Going by that figure, political observers said the party would need the support of Independents and other parties. \"We all have been ignoring the BSP and Independents all along and the BJP should start focussing on them,\" a senior leader said.
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