BJP out with first list, four Muslims among new faces

New Delhi: Despite a long-drawn process to shortlist its nominees for this month’s civic polls, the BJP declared its first list of 160 candidates on Sunday. The deadline for filing nominations for elections in South, East and North Delhi municipal corporations — NDMC, SDMC and EDMC — ends on Monday.

The 272 wards of Delhi’s three municipal bodies go to polls on April 23. The ruling BJP, which has decided not give tickets to sitting councillors in the upcoming polls, has brought in new faces, including four Muslim candidates.

Sources said that the names of remaining candidates will be declared on late Sunday night or Monday morning. In the first list, the BJP has announced names of 58, 35 and 67 candidates for the SDMC, EDMC and NDMC, respectively.

The list mentions four muslim candidates — Kuwar Rafi from Zakir Nagar (SDMC), Sartaj Ahmed from Chauhan Banger and Sabra Malik from Mustafabad (EDMC) and Famudin Safi from Delhi Gate (NDMC). The saffron party has also fielded Kamaljeet Sehrawat, who was the former president of Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha, from Dwarka-B (SDMC).The state BJP unit’s vice-president Shikha Rai will contest from Greater Kailash ward (SDMC).

The party has given five wards to its ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and one seat to Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), a BJP leader said. The ally candidates will contest on BJP’s symbol only.