BJP MP Udit Raj sheds ‘chowkidar’ identity in protest against party’s decision to deny him ticket

BJP North-west Delhi parliamentarian Udit Raj on Tuesday removed ‘chowkidar’ from his Twitter profile name soon after threatening to party. Udit Raj, who had added ‘chowkidar’ to his name in solidarity with the BJP’s “Main Bhi Chowkidar” campaign, removed the title in protest against the party’s decision to deny him Lok Sabha poll ticket.

Earlier in the day, the BJP leader had threatened to quit the party if not given a ticket. “I am waiting for ticket if not given to me I will do good bye to party,” the BJP MP wrote on Twitter.

Udit Raj had given the party a deadline till 11 am today to announce his candidature, else he said he will quit. “I still hopeful that I will file nomination from my constituency and BJP where I have worked hard and proved my metal. I hope I will not be forced to leave BJP by BJP itself,” he said in a series of tweets.

In 2014, Udit Raj won the North-west Delhi seat by defeating Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Rakhi Birla by over one lakh votes. The BJP had announced candidates on six of the seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital.

The party has fielded Harsh Vardhan from Chandni Chowk, Manoj Tiwari from North East Delhi, Pravesh Verma from West Delhi and Ramesh Bidhuri from South Delhi. It has fielded Meenakshi Lekhi from New Delhi and Gautam Gambhir from East Delhi. The party is yet to announce candidate for the North-west Delhi.