Vani Tripathi, picked by the party for Vikaspuri constituency, was among those whose candidature was derided by the protestors. Tripathi lives in Gole Market. “She does not even know the area’s topography. How do you think she is going to manage?” a block-level worker from Vikaspuri asked.

In East Delhi, there is grouse against student leader Nakul Bhardwaj’s name being proposed for the Patparganj seat. Protestors said though Bhardwaj’s brother had been living in the area for long, he himself moved in barely six months ago.

Similar is the complaint in Vishwas Nagar as party workers from the area said local candidate Kuldeep Chel was ignored. Instead, senior leaders are trying to finalise O P Sharma’s candidature, they said.

For the newly formed constituency Kirari, Delhi BJP has chosen Anil Jha, who lives in Katwaria Sarai. There was also massive protest against Mongolpuri candidate Yogesh Attre. “Attre lives in Kheda village, some 20 kilometres from Mongolpuri,” ticket aspirant from the area, Roshan Valmiki, said.

Attre, he said, does not have an idea of the area. “He doesn’t even know local BJP workers. The party would only serve the seat to (Congress minister) Rajkumar Chauhan this way.”

Santosh Parkhi, a woman candidate eyeing the Bawana seat, came with an entourage to protest. The party has selected former MLA Chand Ram for the seat. Elected in 1993, Ram had not managed a nomination since then. “BJP talks about 33 per cent reservation for women in elections,” Parkhi said, “but ground realities are vastly different.”

... contd.