Delhi unit rapped for objecting to Gambhir’s entry

New Delhi: The BJP central leadership is reportedly unhappy with the party city unit for its failure to properly handle the joining of former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir.

Last Friday, Mr Gambhir joined BJP in the presence of Union minister Arun Jaitely and Ravi Shankar Prasad at the party’s national headquarters. After Mr Gambhir joined the party, Delhi BJP election panel not only failed to recommend his name for a party ticket but also raised objection against giving priority to celebrities joining the party.

The BJP central leadership, meanwhile, rejected shortlisted names for party ticket in seven Lok Sabha constituencies in the national capital.

A party insider said that Union finance minister Mr Jaitley is reportedly unhappy with the Delhi BJP for discussing Mr Gambhir’s joining in its meeting and objecting to giving ticket to celebrities. “Mr Jaitely is unhappy with Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, himself a celebrity, for allowing discussion held to raise concern against giving priority to celebrities in ticket distribution,” said the party leader, adding that Mr Tiwari got ticket in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls only due to his celebrity status even after losing the 2009 general elections from Gorakhpur. The central leadership also pointed off the record briefing by state unit that Mr Gambhir’s name is not in the short listed candidates as he neither applied nor joined the party when the whole exercise was over.