City BJP chief replaced, chinks in party ahead of MC election

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monady replaced former mayor Sanjeev Sharma Bittu with former councillor Vijay Kumar Kuka as its local unit president, bringing to fore internal fissues in the lead-up to the Municipal Corporation polls.

Kuka is said to be close to the Moti Bagh Palace, while Bittu, a Royal family loyalist, are known to not have shared a cordial working relationship.

It is in the backdrop that the abrupt replacement, mere days prior to the civic body elections, assumes significance. There have been no other changes in the party unit elsewhere.

Besdies, no reason was cited for the sudden replacement and the party termed it a “routine” practice. The move has nonetheless raised eyebrows.

While Bittu was not available for comments, those privy to the developments said the differences appeared due to his growing political ambitions.

A “Mahamantri” in the BJP, Kuka is said to be close to the Royal family, especially the party’s state Mahila Morcha president Jai Inder Kaur. The latter is the daughter of former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and former MP Preneet Kaur.Kuka has been associated with the family for nearly three decades and has tasted electoral success in the past.

He won the councillor elections in 2012 and 2017 but later exited the Congress following Captain Amarinder Singh resignation.