Sources have shared that stark loyalty lines have been drawn in tripartite show of strength with ministers Vijay Goel and Dr Harshvardhan and Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari at the helm of the three groups.
All is not well in the backyard of Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party. Battle lines are in the local wing due to staunch loyalties, giving rise to infighting, a matter that can have far-reaching consequences with Lok Sabha Polls around the bend.
Sources have shared that stark loyalty lines have been drawn in tripartite show of strength with ministers Vijay Goel and Dr Harshvardhan and Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari at the helm of the three groups.
Both Goel and Harshvardhan, being senior leaders, enjoy strong allegiance in the party, which has left Tiwari with members who have been unable to join the "coveted" sets of these two. The factionalism has led to bad blood between ranks as well as power tussle to stake claim as the most popular leader.
Some leaders also feel that Tiwari's area of focus is only Purvanchali vote bank, another issue that is causing heartburn amongst party members. He succeeded Satish Upadhyay as Delhi wing president, superseding seniors like Goel and Harshvardhan. Speculation were rife in 2016 that the Chandni Chowk MP will head Delhi BJP but Tiwari was brought in at the last minute to woo Purvanchalis who constitute 25 per cent vote share in the national capital. While his appointment as party president did toppled the Punjabi-Baniya lobby, a section of BJP has still not warmed up to the decision.
Delhi BJP has fairly experienced faces like Parvesh Sahib Singh, Goel, Vijay Jolly among others who have not been shouldered with either major responsibilities or decision making powers. Competing with a green horn too has caused rift within the party. "We are not consulted despite the fact that we have been well entrenched in Delhi politics for years. We understand it at hyper local level but no one values us," a senior leader said on condition of anonymity. Leader of opposition Vijender Gupta and Tiwari too are not seen as the best of friends who recently locked horns at a state party meet.
When contacted by DNA, Goel, however, dismissed the reports of factionalism. Clearing his stance, he said that he does not interfere in Delhi wing, suggesting that arguments between members should be seen as difference of opinion. "Even family members do not think on similar lines. I am busy with my ministry and heritage work. If someone wants to see it as an act to divide the party, I cannot help it," he stated.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Manoj Tiwari and Vijay Goel")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}