State BJP inducts ‘sidelined’ RSS veterans
The appointments to the state BJP unit by party president Madanlal Saini are aimed at strengthening the organisation by inducting sidelined leaders and show a clear stamp of RSS influence.
Saini expanded his team by appointing three vice-presidents, two secretaries, four working committee members and two spokespersons.
The leaders who were inducted are committed to the party ideology, and come from a strong RSS background. They were neglected under the previous party leadership. Sources say that by reactivating old and experienced workers, the organisation will get new motivation ahead of the assembly elections in December.
BJP spokesperson Mukesh Pareek said that the party has inducted old workers who had been working for the party but did not have a post. “Since these posts were vacant, the party appointed experienced, senior leaders, whose induction will strengthen the party.”
After Saini, an RSS veteran, became president, he met senior party leaders in an effort to reach out to those who were sidelined.
Among the new appointments, Madan Dilawar from Baran, has been made spokesperson. Dilawar, a former minister and committed RSS worker, had accused Raje of corruption in her last tenure.
Om Saraswat from Churu, a former minister, district party president and committed RSS, has also been appointed as spokesperson.
Mohanram Chaudhary of Nagaur, ex-MP and state cabinet minister Kanakmal Katara from Dungarpur, and ex-MP Pushp Jain of Pali have been made party vice presidents. They all have been RSS workers and Jain is known to be close to BJP MP Om Mathur. Chhagan Mahor and Ashok Chandaliya who have been made state party secretaries, have also been RSS workers.
Dharamvir Sharma, who was district president of Alwar, was removed as he was inactive and unable to run the district unit effectively. In his place, Sanjay Sharma who is close to senior leader Om Mathur has been appointed.
Damodar Agarwal, who was district president in Bhilwara, has been replaced by Laxminarayan Daad. Daad, a former Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) chairman, is close to Saini. Vishnu Chetani, a former ABVP district president, has replaced Manoj Singhania. Chetani is close to MLA Prem Singh Bajor while Singhania is close to MP Sumedhanand Saraswati.
Agarwal, Singhania, Sharma and Shrikumar Lakhotia were inducted in BJP’s state working committee.
Reacting to the organisational changes made by BJP ahead of the assembly elections, Congress spokesperson Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said that BJP could bring changes to its organisation, but that will not wash away the sins of the BJP government. “People have made up their minds to oust the BJP government and any changes in the organisation can’t stop that,” said Khachariyawas.
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