Delhi BJP plays Chhath politics

In a bid to lure Poorvanchali voters ahead of Assembly elections scheduled for later this year, the Delhi BJP on Wednesday promised to declare “Chhath”, a key festival of the community, as a holiday if voted to power. During the first meeting of election committee, the Delhi BJP on Wednesday also decided to finalise the first list of candidates for Assembly polls by September 15. Sources said that party has decided to finalise the first list and sent iot to the national election committee for final clearance by the proposed date. Meanwhile the party also constituted a new “working group” comprising of all former party presidents, general secretaries and other senior members. Former BJP president and in-charge of Delhi for assembly elections, Nitin Gadkari, also promised medical benefits under free health insurance scheme and 10 lakh low cost houses to benefit the poor among the Poorvanchali people, who basically are from Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Gadkari said, “People of Poorvanchal will be given equal opportunities. I want to assure you, if the BJP is voted to power in Delhi, Chhath Puja will be declared a public holiday,” he said. He said that a large number of people comprising the economically weaker sections are from Poorvanchal, who are engaged in different jobs like workers, labourers, rickshaw puller and others. “When the party comes to power, about 40 lakh poor people residing in Delhi will be given medical benefits under free health insurance scheme,” Mr Gadkari said. Slamming Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, Mr Gadkari said the large migrant population for rising crime graph in the city. “Congress and Manmohan Singh government’s mismanagement was responsible for taking the country towards increased inflation, poor GDP and corruption,” he said, adding food inflation has reached 18 per cent during UPA government’s regime, making life miserable for the poor. Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel accused the Dikshit government of ignoring Poorvanchalis during her 15-year rule. “For past 15 years, Poorvanchalis have been ignored by the Sheila Dikshit government. Instead of providing them basic amenities, she is holding them responsible for rising crime and law and order situation,” Mr Goel said, without these people the development of Delhi could not take place.