Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti's rally cancelled; may not be part of BJP electioneering

New Delhi: For the second consecutive day, a scheduled rally of controversial Union minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti on Thursday was cancelled by BJP as it gave indications that she will not be involved in the party's election campaign in the national capital.

Jyoti was to address the rally at Gole Market area in Central Delhi as part of party chief Amit Shah's directive to around 300 BJP MPs to campaign in the city for the upcoming assembly polls.

The decision to not allow her to address the rally came as an unrelenting Opposition kept up its pressure on the government demanding her sacking for allegedly making communal remarks. "Her rally has been cancelled as the party thought that allowing her to address the rally may impact party's image," said a senior leader, adding "the party is considering to cancel her future rallies."

When asked about the issue, Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana only said, "Today's rally of Union minister Sadvi Niranjan Jyoti has been cancelled due to her personal works."

A rally of Jyoti was cancelled yesterday at Sheikh Sarai area in South Delhi. The Opposition disrupted proceedings in Parliament for the third day pressing their demand for the sacking of Jyoti.

The Minister of State for Food Processing had stoked a controversy by allegedly asking voters to elect sons of Lord Ram and not "illegitimate sons" at a BJP rally in Dwarka on Monday evening, leaving the party and the government embarrassed.

She has already expressed "deep regret" and apologised for her actions. Last month, BJP President Shah had directed around 300 MPs to campaign vigorously in the city with an aim to make the party victorious in the assembly polls which is like to take place in February next year.

The Delhi BJP has decided to carefully choose the leaders who would be holding public meetings for the party in the national capital following the Jyoti's controversial remarks. "After Sadhvi Jyoti's controversial remarks, the party's image been hurt in the national capital. To ensure that such episodes are not repeated, the party has decided to carefully choose the MPs for its public meetings," said a senior BJP leader.