Bjp Mps Begin Lobbying For Slot In Union Cabinet

The recent indication by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee of a Cabinet expansion soon has once again created a flutter of activity among the Delhi BJP leaders.

Prominent party MPs have made it a point to be "more visible" both among the party rank and file as well as central leadership. Taking a lead in this have been the three BJP Delhi stalwarts: Senior party leader and incharge of Delhi affairs Vijay Kumar Malhotra as well as the two former Delhi Chief Ministers Madan Lal Khurana and Sahib Singh Verma.

The Holi festival seems to have made things easier for the BJP leaders here hoping to bag a slot in the Union Council of Ministers. Mr Malhotra hosted a lavish Holi get-together in the sprawling lawns of his residence.

 

While hundreds of invitees to the Holi milan were enthralled with cultural performances, the party rankers were busy making a mental note of the big wigs who attended the function. Mr Vajpayee arrived at the meet around 6.30 p.m. and surprised all by staying for a good 40 minutes. Also present were party national vice-presidents K. Jana Krishn-amurthi and J.P. Mathur, senior leader Sikander Bakht, Ms Sushma Swaraj, Mr Khurana, Delhi BJP chief Mange Ram Garg, Delhi Mayor Ms Meera Kanwaria and several others.

Earlier in the day, Mr Garg held a special Holi get-together at the party office at Pandit Pant Marg. Present on the occasion were party Delhi leaders including Mr M. L. Khurana and Ms Anita Arya, leader of the Opposition Jagdish Mukhi, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) standing committee chairman Shanti Desai, Pawan Sharma, Virendra Juyal, Dr Ved Vyas Mahajan and BJP Delhi youth wing chief Indu Bhushan.

While Mr Malhotra and Mr Garg have held their Holi bashes yesterday, Mr Khurana is to have the 'Holi milan samaroh' tomorrow evening at the Nagar Nigam Vidyalaya near central market, Kirti Nagar. Mr Khurana will preside over the get-together which is expected to be attended by Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala among others. Party sources stated that Mr Sahib Singh Verma was relatively low key. He is stated to be lobbying with the RSS top bosses to ensure that his name in once again not given the go-by should a Cabinet expansion take place.

It may be recalled that when Mr Khurana had resigned from the Delhi Chief Ministership, it had been largely owing to the late party leader K.L. Sharma and the now RSS chief Sudarshan that Mr Verma had been made Delhi Chief Minister. Verma is known to be close to the strong RSS lobby here.