No change in state BJP leadership: Khanna
BJP national vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna on Wednesday ruled out any change in state BJP leadership. He was addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters in Jaipur.
After the party’s recent defeat in the three bypolls had led to speculation that the state BJP president Ashok Parnami might be replaced. Replying to a query that people were talking about an imminent change, Khanna said, “The party is not run by those people. There is no such plan.”
On the party projecting a chief minister’s face during polls, Khanna said that the elections were still months away and that Vasundhara Raje was their leader. On another query that BJP president Amit Shah had made up his mind on the change in Rajasthan BJP leadership, Khanna retorted whether the journalist had spoken to Shah.
Khanna, who is the BJP’s Rajasthan-in-charge, said the defeat in the two Lok Sabha seats in Alwar and Ajmer and one assembly seat in Mandalgarh was a lesson for the party and its workers have taken it as a challenge to win the assembly elections.
“I have told the party workers to identify deficiencies and work to remove them,” he said and added that every public representative, including corporators and MLAs, should work with the organisation so as to win the next elections.
Khanna denied any factionalism or revolt within the party.
“Our workers are working with dedication at the booth level. The party’s MLAs and other elected representatives have been asked to take up the organisational works in a fast-paced manner,” he told reporters at the BJP state headquarters here.
On a query on rebel BJP MLA Ghanshyam Tiwari skipping the party meeting, he said Tiwari’s case will be decided by the party’s disciplinary committee.
Khanna said BJP Vistaraks were doing a good job and at present, a three-day training camp of Vistaraks was underway in Pushkar.
Khanna put a lot of emphasis on the booth and panna pramukh (in-charge). During his meetings with party workers, Khanna has given a slogan “booth mazboot, BJP ki jeet.” (if our booth is strong, BJP’s victory is ensured).
On Tuesday, Khanna held meetings with members of the working committee in Sanganer, Civil Lines and Kishanpol assembly constituencies. Former office bearers were also invited to these meetings.
On Wednesday, Khanna was scheduled to attend meetings in Vidyadhar Nagar, Jhotwara, Jamwaramgarh, Shahpura, Viratnagar, Kotputli and assembly constituencies. Assembly elections in the state are due later this year.
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