Panipat Urban won’t be a cakewalk for BJP’s Pramod Vij

Winning the Panipat Urban seat will not be easy for BJP candidate and MLA Pramod Vij as he is set to face not only the opposition’s attacks, but also deal with infighting among party workers and resentment of aspirants.

The Congress, however, is yet to announce its candidate. Sources said BJP leader Gajender Saluja, former mayor Avneet Kaur and former BJP councillor Lokesh Nagroo, among others, were also keen to contest the Assembly poll.

The sources claimed that former Chief Minister and Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar was lobbying for former MP Sanjay Bhatia, and his name was also in the final list, but the party favoured Vij.

Scores of workers are upset with the party’s decision and are in a mood to oppose his candidature, and some leaders have maintained a distance from the candidate’s office.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Bhatia visited the residence of Nagroo in Model Town on Friday and tried to persuade him to support Vij. However, Nagroo’s supporters are putting pressure on him to contest. “I will decide the next course of action in a day or two, after a meeting with supporters and the party,” Nagroo said, adding that, “I am not going to resign from the party.”

Himanshu Sharma, another leader, said some leaders were ignoring party workers, and if they are not respected, the party would collapse. “I have a meeting with my supporters and am ready to contest as an Independent,” he said.

Vij, however, claimed that all was good in the party and no leader or aspirant was annoyed with his ticket. “Election preparations are in full swing,” he added.