Ahead of polls, Smriti Irani’s activities in Delhi create buzz

The growing involvement of former Amethi MP Smriti Irani in BJP activities in Delhi has created a buzz within the party’s city unit over her possible “role” in local politics ahead of next year’s assembly elections. Born and raised in Delhi, the former Union minister has been actively involved in programmes related to the party’s membership drive in the city that was launched on September 2. She has been assigned “supervision” of the membership drive in seven out of the Delhi BJP’s 14 district units, party leaders said.

Party insiders also claimed Irani had purchased a house in south Delhi, hinting at her further involvement in the city unit’s activities. “These developments come amid a section of party leaders pushing for the projection of a face who would lead the charge in the Delhi Assembly polls to give a tough fight to AAP led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal,” said a senior BJP leader. In the 2020 assembly polls, the BJP contested without a face or declaring any leader as its chief ministerial candidate.

It managed to win eight out the 70 seats while AAP won the remainder, he noted. Another top Delhi BJP leader said if the idea of going to the polls with a chief ministerial candidate gained currency, the question over a suitable leader for the responsibility would naturally come up.“In such a scenario, Irani, along with other leaders such as MPs Manoj Tiwari and Bansuri Swaraj could be potential contenders for the role,” he said. The entire party rallying behind one leader will send a message of “unity,” he claimed.