BJP Min Names Manoj Tiwari as Delhi CM Candidate, Retracts Remarks

Hardeep Singh Puri said that the BJP would fight the Delhi election under the leadership of Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari

Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@ManojTiwariMP)

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday, 24 November, said that the BJP would fight the Assembly election under the leadership of Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari.

Addressing party workers in Delhi, Puri, who is also the co-incharge of Delhi BJP, said:

“We are going to fight the assembly election under the leadership of Manoj Tiwari and we will ensure that he (Tiwari) becomes the chief minister.” 

Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister

However, Puri’s words gave birth to fresh speculations around the Delhi CM candidate for the ruling party. He later clarified in a tweet that he meant that the BJP would win with a huge mandate under Tiwari's leadership and the party has not announced any chief ministerial candidate.

“The BJP is headed for victory in Delhi. The party has so far not nominated anyone for the post of Chief Minister. Mr Manoj Tiwari is the president of The party is working vigorously under his leadership. My statement meant that the BJP would win the upcoming elections under his leadership with a huge vote.”

Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister

The gaffe was quickly noted by the ruling party of Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party. Party leader Sanjay Singh said that the people of Delhi want to know BJP’s CM Candidate against Arvind Kejriwal, but the Union Minister named Tiwari but left the battlefield in two hours.

“Has the BJP given a walkover to Kejriwal in the elections?” Singh said in a tweet.

(With inputs from PTI)