After bypolls setback, BJP focuses on feedback in MP
ASSESSMENT Party’s national gen secy expected to visit Bhopal to assess ground situation The state government cannot be squarely blamed for the defeat in the bypolls. At the same time, organisational weakness and antiincumbency cannot be overlooked. BHOPAL:
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah has started the process of taking organisational feedback before the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, scheduled for November-December, and the reasons for the party’s defeats in bypolls in two assembly seats, party leaders familiar with the ongoing discussion said.
The party’s national joint general secretary (organisation) Saudan Singh is scheduled to visit Bhopal on March 26 to assess the ground situation, despite the state leadership expressing confidence of doing well in the assembly elections.
During his stay, Singh is expected to interact with officebearers down to the booth-level about the organisational activities, and seek suggestions on what should be done to strengthen the party ahead of the state elections, leaders said.
A party leader said that Singh would visit under the ‘mahamantri pravas yojna’ for three days and also take stock of the reported “infighting”.
“What worries the top leadership at the moment are infighting, workers’ disillusionment with leaders and the government, workers not giving their 100%, the government’s schemes not benefitting the intended beneficiaries on the ground, and reports about rampant corruption in the government machinery,” A MADHYA PRADESH BJP LEADER said an office-bearer asking not to be identified.
But there is a sense of relief in Madhya Pradesh BJP since the party’s loss in bypolls in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
“The state government here (in Madhya Pradesh) cannot be squarely blamed for the defeat in the bypolls (in Mungaoli and Kolaras assembly seats),” said another office-bearer, requesting anonymity. “At the same time, the organisational weakness and anti-incumbency cannot be overlooked.” The officebearer added that the high command should set the house in order to ensure victory in polls or else “things will go haywire”.
Party’s chief state spokesperson Deepak Vijayvargiya said he didn’t have any official communication regarding Singh’s visit but if such a visit was planned, it should not be seen in the context of any organisational feedback. “Our national office-bearers visit Madhya Pradesh regularly. There is nothing unusual.”
Leaders said their state president Nandkumar Singh Chuahan and general secretary (organisation) Suhash Bhagat have already briefed the party’s national leaders about the reasons for the defeat in bypolls.
Party leaders said that Chauhan had told the central leadership that the party’s vote percentage had increased in Mungaoli and Kolaras assembly constituencies and the party was able to reduce the victory margin in these Congress bastions.