New Delhi: Harsh Vardhan, a former minister and a medical doctor, will front the BJP's attempt to wrest the national capital away from the Congress' Sheila Dikshit, who has been chief minister for the last 15 years.
The BJP today named the ENT specialist its chief ministerial candidate for the December 4 Assembly elections after an intense leadership struggle.
Dr Harsh Vardhan, a four-time MLA who is best known for his role in the very successful Pulse Polio programme to immunize children against the disease, trumped his party rival Vijay Goel, who fought bitterly, till he was forced to back down.
It is reportedly banking on the mild-mannered doctor to pull in middle class voters, especially in the urban pockets of Delhi, where the Congress and AAP have made a head start in campaigning. Narendra Modi, the party's presumptive Prime Minister, reportedly said the delay in announcing a clear leader in Delhi would affect the party's campaign
The BJP celebrated in Delhi today, possibly most out of relief that the leadership tussle had ended. But the party is aware that an unhappy Mr Goel, who is the state unit chief, could tell on its performance in the elections.
But he also admitted that it was "a problem" that he would not get credit for a BJP win in Delhi, but could be blamed if it loses.
The BJP today named the ENT specialist its chief ministerial candidate for the December 4 Assembly elections after an intense leadership struggle.
Dr Harsh Vardhan, a four-time MLA who is best known for his role in the very successful Pulse Polio programme to immunize children against the disease, trumped his party rival Vijay Goel, who fought bitterly, till he was forced to back down.
It is reportedly banking on the mild-mannered doctor to pull in middle class voters, especially in the urban pockets of Delhi, where the Congress and AAP have made a head start in campaigning. Narendra Modi, the party's presumptive Prime Minister, reportedly said the delay in announcing a clear leader in Delhi would affect the party's campaign
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The BJP celebrated in Delhi today, possibly most out of relief that the leadership tussle had ended. But the party is aware that an unhappy Mr Goel, who is the state unit chief, could tell on its performance in the elections.
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But he also admitted that it was "a problem" that he would not get credit for a BJP win in Delhi, but could be blamed if it loses.
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