HOW BJP CENTRAL BRASS CONTROLS POLL-BOUND STATES
CHHATTISGARH
Raman Singh has been one of the most conciliatory CMs for the BJP’s central brass
How Shah responds:
Ensured re-election of Raman favourite Dharamlal Kaushik as state BJP president
Anil Jain is the central minder RSS works through BJP State General Secretary (Organisation) Pawan Sai and National Joint General Secretary (Organisation), Saudan Singh, a Chhattisgarh veteran
Free hand to Raman Singh
MADHYA PRADESH
Shivraj Singh Chouhan is complaisant but should hew in a fourth time, noone knows how far his ambitions will rise
How Shah responds:
BJP Vice-president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe is the official minder but Shah has asked General Secretary Anil Jain to manage the show in MP
BJP State President Rakesh Singh is Shah’s nominee
Reports are one-third of the 165 sitting MLAs may be dropped to buck anti-incumbency sentiment
RSS works through BJP State General Secretary (Organisation) Suhas Bhagat
RAJASTHAN
CMV a sundhara Raje is a tough nut to crack
How Shah responds:
Although Avinash Rai Khanna is the BJP’s official central minder, Shah has asked General Secretary Bhupender Yadav to micro-manage state affairs
A majority of the 160 BJP MLAs are Vasundhara loyalists so chances are they will be repeated
BJP State President Saini is considered accessible to party workers and a neutral face. Shah shouldn’t have issues despite his initial reservations
Saini will keep BJP-RSS relations on an even keel