BJP may field celebrity candidates, especially veteran cricketers like Gautam Gambhir and former India skipper MS Dhoni in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, according to top sources in the party.
The sources went on to say that Gautam Gambhir is likely to take over Meenakshi Lekhi from the New Delhi constituency for BJP, considering that Gambhir belongs to Delhi. He is also a resident of Rajinder Nagar in the New Delhi constituency. The prolific Indian opener who has contributed a lot for Indian cricket has been on the most wanted list of Bharatiya Janata Party.
A senior BJP leader told The Sunday Guardian, “Reports from the ground about Meenakshi Lekhi are not good. People from her constituency are not happy with her work and the party leadership has decided that she will not be repeated this time as a candidate from New Delhi. Gautam Gambhir, in most likelihood, will be the party’s candidate from the same seat. He has wide acceptability and is known for his social work. He is a Delhiite and will do his best for the people of Delhi.”
Senior BJP leaders, after discussion, also confirmed that the party is in talks with MS Dhoni to contest from Jharkhand on BJP seat, considering the fact that MS Dhoni is the biggest icon of Jharkhand.
“Both players have wide acceptability, respect, and credibility across the country and are regarded as leaders by all sections of society. They are not only leaders from their respective states but also leaders of the country. Dhoni is currently the captain of the Chennai Super Kings team playing at the IPL (Indian Premier League) and thus has reach and mass base even in the southern parts of India. Both these players joining the party will be an asset for us,” the senior leader quoted earlier said.
One of the founding members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), poet Kumar Vishwas is also in connection with the party leadership at the Centre and there are possibilities that he may get a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Ghaziabad in UP.
“Kumar Vishwas is in touch with the BJP leadership and could formally join the party before the 2019 elections. Vishwas also has a wide fan base and is an excellent orator. He could prove to be an asset for the party,” a senior BJP leader said.
Vishwas had previously contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from AAP against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi but had lost the elections. Having lost it, he was not considered as the party’s main candidate to the Rajya Sabha from the National capital.
(Inputs: The Sunday Guardian)
Earlier reports:
The saffron party approached Gautam Gambhir to formally join the party to change fortunes in Delhi. It would be quite interesting to see how Gambhir goes about his business in the times to come. We’ll have to wait and see what step he takes next.
