BJP: Assess ideological leanings of candidates

NEW DELHI: After selections to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand came under a cloud on account of the appointees’ alleged statements against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on social media, the party high command reiterated that all selections should be made after assessing the ideological leanings of the candidates, a party person familiar with the developments said on Sunday.

“This has been conveyed verbally by the people in-charge to all the states,” the person said.

On June 8, Tushar Panchal, who has worked with Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the past, was appointed as his Officer on Special Duty. However, following a row over his posts that were supposedly critical of the BJP government and its ideology, Panchal bowed out from accepting the position.

A similar appointment was withdrawn by the Uttarakhand government in May when former journalist Dinesh Mansera’s selection for the position of media advisor to CM Tirath Singh Rawat came under criticism. Mansera was appointed on May 17 but following the uproar, the appointment was declined on May 21, another person familiar with the development said.

The first person cited above said, “If a person who has made comments against the BJP government or the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or its leaders is appointed to a senior position, the government sends a wrong message and is embarrassing (the party)...” Among those who tweeted against Panchal’s appointment were Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Bagga and Rajeev Tuli, a member of the Delhi state executive of RSS.

Asked if the government was aware of Panchal’s old posts on Twitter where he criticised the BJP, the second person said it could have been a “lapse”. In Mansera’s case, however, an RSS functionary said the criticism was “misplaced” as he is “ideologically inclined to the Sangh”.