BJP's Virendra Sachdeva on Delhi CM face: 'Party brass will decide at right time'

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva highlighted corruption allegations against AAP which struck a chord with voters.

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said the AAP had lost the Delhi election as people lost trust in the Arvind Kejriwal-led government.

In an interview with Times of India, the Delhi BJP chief  highlighted corruption allegations against AAP which struck a chord with Delhi voters.

“The biggest issue was trust in the government. There was rampant corruption, and delivery was zero, either in terms of basic things like providing clean water or making roads. People simultaneously saw that Narendra Modi (central government) was doing a lot of work in Delhi in the form of expanding the metro, rapid rail and houses for the poor. So, people thought Narendra Modi wanted to make Delhi a world-class city, but AAP govt was not allowing him,” Sachdeva told TOI.

Speaking about the BJP face for the chief ministerial post, Sachdeva said this decision has to be taken by the top leadership, and they will take it at the right time. “As of now, we have not been given any date,” he said.

According to Sachdeva, the people wanted AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal to respond to their queries on corruption in the liquor policy and “Sheesh Mehal”. “Then there was the issue of air pollution and Yamuna pollution, which he (Kejriwal) again was not addressing. So, we kept our entire focus on local issues, be it traffic problems, pollution or parking,” he said.

Sachdeva shared with TOI that he was involved in the BJP’s micro-strategy plan for Delhi election. “Our focus was on 52 assembly seats, which we won in the Lok Sabha. I thought if the same people were voting for us in the Lok Sabha election, then why were they not voting for us in the Vidhan Sabha? So, by my standard, I am four seats less, and next time we will ensure that we achieve even that,” he said Delhi BJP chief.

Sachdeva said tha BJP’s focus was on 52 assembly seats, which it won in the Lok Sabha. “I thought if the same people were voting for us in the Lok Sabha election, then why were they not voting for us in the Vidhan Sabha? So, by my standard, I am four seats less, and next time we will ensure that we achieve even that,” he said.

Of the 70 assembly seats, BJP won 48 - beyond the majority mark, while AAP managed to win 22 seats. Congress yet again failed to open its account.

“This is the collective effort of every ground-level karyakarta, booth worker, every office-bearer. This has been possible due to the work and direction given by the party leadership and then executed by us,” said the Delhi BJP chief.

He also said that in the first meeting of the Vidhan Sabha, the BJP will keep all the 14 CAG reports on the table. “SIT for all the corruptions that were in the AAP govt, and the Ayushman scheme will be implemented. Waterlogging points have alrea dy been identified, and there is a need to work on them immediately so that it doesn’t happen again. Clean drinking water has to be provided to people. Yamuna cleaning will also be a focus area,” he told TOI.