Party over: BJP councillors who attended Vijay Goel's function to lose MCD posts

Terming it an act of indiscipline, the party has sought explanations from the councillors asking them to reply at the earliest. The party leadership has also decided against giving any key responsibility to these councilors in the newly constituted municipal corporations.

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Party over: BJP councillors who attended Vijay Goel's function to lose MCD posts

In Short

  • Delhi BJP leadership has sought answers from councillors who attended Union minister's Vijay Goel's function.
  • Party top guns have also decided to halt key appointments of the concerned councillors.
  • Delhi BJP says the councillors attended the function even after asked not to.

In a major fallout of the May 16 felicitation ceremony hosted by Union minister Vijay Goel, the Delhi BJP has issued showcause notices to its councillors who attended the function against the party 'directive'.

Terming it an act of indiscipline, the party has sought explanations from the councillors asking them to reply at the earliest. The party leadership has also decided against giving any key responsibility to these councilors in the newly constituted municipal corporations.

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The development comes a day after Mail Today reported that the appointment of three leaders, considered close to Goel, as leaders of the House was put on hold by Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari.

WHY IS DELHI BJP LEADERSHIP MIFFED?

The controversy came after Goel hosted a reception party for BJP councillors at his official residence on May 16, which was attended by a host of Delhi BJP leaders including MPs Ramesh Bidhuri and Pravesh Verma, apart from nearly 50 councillors.

A general secretary of Delhi BJP had conveyed to councillors against attending the function against the party president's wish. "Such felicitations are organised by the state unit president. Councillors who attended the function have been asked to explain what necessitated their attendance at Goel's residence against the party's stand," a Delhi BJP leader said.

Sources said three councilors - Shikha Rai, Jai Prakash and Santosh Pal - have mainly been held responsible by the state unit.

APPOINTMENTS UNLIKELY

The party has taken serious note of their 'inability to effectively convey the message of the party president to newly elected members'. These leaders were tipped to become the leader of the House in South, North and East MCDs. However, their appointment is now unlikely. Interestingly, Tiwari had earlier tweeted announcing Rai's appointment as leader of the House in SDMC. Sources said they may also be deprived from heading various statutory and ad hoc committees in the corporations.

"It is a clear act of indiscipline BJP has been out of power in Delhi for 20 years. If the party fails to put up a united front, it will continue to struggle. The central BJP leadership has tasked the Delhi BJP president with ending infighting in the state unit," a source close to Tiwari said.

Mail Today tried contacting Goel but he couldn't be reached.

Also read: Manoj Tiwari skips Vijay Goel's function for MCD victors. Is he wary of Union minister's interest in Delhi?

Also read: Manoj Tiwari eats with slum dwellers; takes jibe at Kejriwal, says work is done here, not in AC rooms