New Delhi, Oct. 23: The BJP today named Harsh Vardhan as its chief ministerial candidate for Delhi, preferring the 58-year-old ENT surgeon over determined state party chief Vijay Goel.

The party backed the surgeon for the coveted post hoping his no-nonsense image would help the party end the 15-year-long rule of the Congress. Delhi goes to polls on December 4. The party sought to make a big affair of Harsh Vardhan’s projection with all top leaders, barring prime ministerial face Narendra Modi, present on the stage for the announcement. Modi later tweeted to lend his support for the former health minister, when the BJP ruled the state.

“Congratulations to Dr Harsh Vardhan… As health minister, his trend-setting polio eradication drive made Delhi polio free & now I am sure he will free Delhi from mis-governance,” Modi tweeted.

Vijay Goel, who was determined to be projected the chief ministerial face, appeared to have accepted the decision without any fuss.