BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri’s recent controversial statements targeting Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have caused internal unease within the party, prompting discussions about replacing him for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections.
Following the remarks, which included a disparaging comment about Atishi’s surname and a controversial reference to Priyanka Gandhi’s appearance, Bidhuri faced backlash from party members. According to sources within the party, there have been at least two organizational meetings to assess whether to “shift or cancel” Bidhuri’s candidacy. These talks are reportedly in the early stages.
A senior BJP source revealed that party president JP Nadda reprimanded Bidhuri immediately after the comments. Bidhuri, a two-time Lok Sabha MP and three-time MLA, was slated to contest the upcoming assembly election against Atishi from her home constituency of Kalkaji.
In addition to the controversy surrounding his remarks, there has been speculation that the BJP is considering a woman candidate to replace him in Kalkaji. Several potential female candidates have been discussed in these preliminary talks, although no final decision has been made.
Bidhuri’s previous remarks about former BSP MP Danish Ali in 2023 also stirred controversy, ultimately leading to a loss of his ticket for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and a diminished chance of securing a Union Cabinet position.
