by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
BJP axes 15th leader above 75 years age
No Decision on Sumitra Mahajan yet
Malini Gaur in Race
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, April 2
With the denial of ticket to 15th leader Lilabhai Vaghela who was 83 years old by the BJP high command in Patan, Gujrat, the last of the legends Sumitra Mahajan is miffed over the delay in announcing her candidature. The 8th term Lok Sabha MP from Indore and Speaker of the Lok Sabha is waiting with bated breath for the green signal to contest 9th time from the coveted seat.
The BJP veteran was so upset that she chose to stay away from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mai Bhi Chowkidar’ event in Indore on Sunday last. Until the event it was widely believed that the “Tai” as she is popularly known in the BJP, will get the ticket. Her argument convinced some of the BJP leaders that Speaker is not a government post but a Constitutional one and 75 year rule should not apply in this case.
But the the fact that the BJP has showed the door to 15 leaders so far who were above the age of 75 years, Indore is the only seat where BJP has not declared the candidate. Sumitra Mahajan's absence from the “Mai Bhi Chowkidar” event has triggered speculations that all is not well.
Though some other BJP leaders, including Indore-V MLA Mahendra Hardia and Indore-III MLA Akash Vijayvargiya too skipped the program, it was Sumitra Mahajan's absence that triggered speculations about the possibility to becoming the 16th victim of the rule.
A miffed Mahajan has not even added the prefix Chowkidar to their official twitter handle in support of the PM Narendra Modi’s Mai Bhi Chowkidar call. She is among the handful of such leaders. May be, she has got wind of the impending decision and staying away from media glare for the past sometime.
This development has, however, elated the supporters of Indore Mayor Malini Gaur in the party. She is a BJP loyalist and brought laurels to the city by getting the Cleanest City of the country for the past two years. The Prime Minister is very happy with her performance and wants to elevate her. She was not given the MLA ticket when the Assembly polls took place as party general secretary Kailash Vijayvergiya gave it to his son. Now he has been told to confine himself to West Bengal.
The last date of filing nomination papers is April 29 for Indore, where polling will be held on May 19.
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