In a bid to expand its base, BJP appoints incharges for all assembly segments

› The high command wants the party’s state unit to be seen on its own and promote more Sikh faces, especially those with farming background and involve them in the decisionmaking process

A SENIOR BJP LEADER

CHANDIGARH : With a view to expanding its base ahead of the 2022 Punjab polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed incharges for all the 117 c assembly constituencies of the state.

The party high command wants these in-charges to strengthen the party cadre, especially in those segments traditionally not contested by the saffron outfit, said senior functionaries.

Of the 117 assembly seats, the BJP fields its candidates on 23 while its alliance partner Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) contests from the rest.

The development assumes significance as voices of dissent against the SAD are frequently heard within the BJP cadre with many leaders insisting on going alone in the assembly.

The party has divided every assembly segment into three mandals (blocks) and the new incharges have been given the task of making 45-member committees in all blocks, said a senior leader involved in decision making.

“The incharges will complete this task in coming three months,” he said.

In the last few months, the party was hardly seen in sync with its traditional alliance partner even on a grave issue like the hooch tragedy in Majha that claimed 130 lives.

The two allies held separate demonstrations against the state government with the BJP organising dharnas in as many as 114 assembly constituencies besides carrying out a protest march outside the Chandigarh residence of chief minister Amarinder Singh.

EITHER CHIEF OR GENERAL SECY OF PANELS TO BE SIKH

Under the new strategy, the party’s state unit has been asked to give preference to Sikh faces in the block and district level committees. Also, it has been decided in principle that either the president or general secretary of these committees should be a Sikh.

“The high command wants the party’s state unit to be seen on its own and promote more Sikh faces, especially those with farming background and involve them in the decisionmaking process,” said a senior leader.

The party has announced to hold three virtual rallies at the block level for farmers, youth and Dalits in the next two months.

State BJP chief, Ashwani Sharma downplayed the move to appoint incharges for all segments. “The BJP is in alliance with the SAD in Punjab but both have their own organisational programmes and styles of functioning. Both protested against the hooch tragedy from different stages. This is how parties function,” said Sharma.