Discontent within Delhi BJP as two spokespersons exit WhatsApp groups

With municipal polls only months away and the BJP facing three-term anti-incumbency, discontent has been brewing among a section of leaders in the party’s Delhi unit, it is learnt.

BJP spokespersons Tajinder Bagga and Harish Khurana are said to be upset with the state leadership over not being given “due representation and responsibilities”.

Bagga, who has over 7 lakh followers on Twitter, removed his party credentials from his handle’s bio, which earlier read “BJP spokesperson, BJP Karyakarta, BJP MLA candidate Hari Nagar Vidhan Sabha, Swayamsevak”.

A senior BJP leader said Bagga was unhappy over not being given the post of youth wing president and having to continue as spokesperson. “Last week he was removed from three WhatsApp groups for party spokespersons, but was added again on Tuesday. He, however, left these groups,” said a senior BJP leader, also a party spokesperson.

When contacted, Bagga said it was for the party to comment on the matter.

Sources said Harish Khurana, son of former Delhi CM Madan Lal Khurana, also left most of the party WhatsApp groups, including those of spokespersons and office bearers, as he was dissatisfied over not getting ample representation in party platforms. Despite being a senior member of Delhi BJP, sources said, Khurana feels “ignored”.

Khurana had earlier threatened to resign from the post of spokesperson, which he has held for over 10 years, as he has been pushing for an office-bearer post. He had also sought a ticket in last year’s assembly elections but was denied.

Delhi BJP’s media head Naveen Kumar, meanwhile, sought to downplay the incident and said Khurana is very much part of the party’s WhatsApp groups, while Bagga “may have changed his phone”.

Senior leaders in the party said several leaders who were part of former Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari’s team have not been given any party posts since Adesh Gupta took charge. This includes former vice-president Shazia Ilmi, former general secretary Ravinder Gupta, and Rajesh Bhatia.

“We have a battery of experienced people who are politically sound. Some of them have mass following on social media and some on the ground. Each of them has their importance. The MCD elections are less than a year away, and if we want to put up a good show we will have to bring everyone together,” said a senior BJP leader.