After months of dithering, BJP today declared amiable face Harsh Vardhan as its chief ministerial candidate for Delhi Assembly elections despite opposition by city unit chief Vijay Goel.
The decision, which ended uncertainty on the issue, was taken at a hurriedly-convened meeting of the Parliamentary Board, BJP's highest decision-making body, here.
The faction-ridden party unit projected 59-year-old Harsh Vardhan, ignoring opposition from its Delhi unit chief Vijay Goel, who was projecting himself as the CM candidate ahead of polls.
BJP was in a dilemma for the last few months on the issue of projecting a chief ministerial candidate and on whom to project.
The party's top brass took the unanimous decision to make Harsha Vardhan - four-time MLA, former Delhi Health Minister and ENT surgeon - the chief ministerial candidate after hectic discussions.
The decision is aimed at boosting the prospects of the party by curbing increasing resentment in the state unit against Goel's style of functioning.
BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi could not attend today's Parliamentary Board meeting convened at a short notice, but gave his nod to the decision.
"The Parliamentary Board discussed who should be the chief ministerial candidate of the party in the Delhi. After discussing all aspects, we decided unanimously to declare Harsh Vardhan as our chief ministerial candidate," BJP President Rajnath Singh told reporters after the meeting.
Singh had earlier talked to Goel about the decision of the party.
Senior BJP leader L K Advani maintained that Goel had "happily accepted" the decision.
Advani indicated that the decision was taken bearing the Lok Sabha polls in mind.
Sources said Goel, a former Union minister, has been assured of a role at the Centre if the party comes to power.
