NDMC Mayor of BJP resigns for not getting assembly poll ticket

Angry over not getting nomination for coming assembly elections in Delhi, North Delhi Municipal Corporation Mayor Azad Singh today resigned from his post.

New Delhi: Angry over not getting nomination for coming assembly elections in Delhi, North Delhi Municipal Corporation Mayor Azad Singh on Friday resigned from his post.

According to Singh, he has tendered his resignation as Mayor claiming he was the `deserving` candidate for Mundka seat where BJP has renominated its sitting candidate Manoj Shokeen who had won in 2008 by over 14,000 votes. In a letter addressed to BJP President Rajnath Singh, Azad Singh alleged money has been taken in distribution of seats and deserving candidates have been sidelined. The other irked candidate who tendered his resignation from the party was Harsharan Singh Balli from Hari Nagar constituency. His seat was given to a candidate belonging to BJP ally Akali Dal. Bali was the only sitting MLA who was refused ticket. When contacted, Balli said he will not withdraw the resignation as he is "deeply hurt" by the party`s decision. Rejecting the resignations, state party President Vijay Goel said he will talk to Singh and Balli. "I am confident that we will be able to persuade the two leaders to take back their resignation. The contribution made them is valuable for the party," he said. Delhi BJP had witnessed an open rebellion by a section of party workers over its decision to field Parvesh Verma, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, from Mehrauli assembly constituency, yesterday. Protesters claiming to be supporter`s of former Mayor of South Delhi Municipal Corporation Savita Chaudhary had shouted slogans, entered the party headquaters and gheraoed BJP`s Chief Ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan and other party leaders like Goel, candidate for the New Delhi constituency, Vijender Gupta, and the Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly.