Jagdish Mukhi downplays rift in Delhi BJP, says those who don't get ticket feel humiliated

New Delhi: In an attempt to become the world largest political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party has opened its doors for leaders from other parties and for prominent personalities.

But many BJP leaders and workers have been ignored specially in Delhi where the new entrant Kiran Bedi, a former IPS officer, has been named the CM candidate leading to a rift in the party. But five-time BJP MLA from Janakpuri Jagdish Mukhi downplays the rift saying only one person can get the ticket from a seat.

"With the growth of a political party, there are more than 10 members who want to contest from a particular seat but only one gets the ticket. In such a circumstance, those who did not get the ticket feel humiliated. But everyone will work for the party," he says.

After Bedi's nomination the situation turned so ugly that Delhi BJP President Satish Upadhyay's supporters protested against the party decision and even Delhi unit in-charge Prabhat Jha was gheraoed.

But Mukhi credits the entry of new faces into BJP to Prime Minster Narendra Modi. "PM Modi has been successful in developing a nationalistic feelings in the people," he says.

Mukhi is contesting against his son-in-law Suresh Kumar who is the Congress nominee and Aam Aadmi Party's Rajesh Rishi (AAP). Mukhi had defeated Rishi in 2013 and is confident of repeating the feat once again. He says he will showcase the work done during the previous BJP regime in Delhi from 1993-1998 and it is for the people to decide.

"People will have to choose which government do they want in the national capital - a government of scams, 15 years of misrule of Congress; a government of anarchy or the golden years under BJP regime," he says.

On the question of declaring Kiran Bedi as the chief ministerial candidate of BJP, Mukhi says, "Circumstances change according to the state and it is the decision of central leadership. Earlier, opponents used to say we have no leader and questions are being raised even when we have declared the chief ministerial candidate."

Unlike many of his party colleagues, Mukhi is not very active on social media and is relying on door-to-door campaigning and nukkad sabhas.