Don’t fight in public, prepare for poll: BJP

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi | Tuesday, June 15, 2010

The BJP bosses mustered no courage to discuss the party’s fiasco in Jharkhand during the national executive in Patna. However, they asked the Jharkhand BJP leaders to prepare for Assembly election that might go along with Assembly election in Bihar.

“It was a national executive meeting and discussed only national issues. Jharkhand was not on the agenda. But then, we have been indicated to be prepared for the election in Jharkhand that might be held along with Bihar,” BJP’s national general secretary Arjun Munda said.

Meanwhile, the sources said that the central leadership was not pleased with the way differences among the leaders of Jharkhand BJP became public over the formation of the Government.

Cautioning them not to air their differences, the central leadership has sent a stern message to leaders. “Though the Nitish Kumar affair overshadowed most of the crucial issues and the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar remained the focal point of the agend, the BJP suffered a loss of image in Jharkhand. The leadership suggested for a quick plan of action to end the organisational dishevelment in Jharkhand,” a senior BJP leader said.

As the BJP leadership apprehends the Assembly election in Jharkhand, it has decided to start the process of the appointing the Jharkhand BJP president after the Rajya Sabha elections.

The central BJP has been relying on the field reports of Jharkhand gathered from different sources (other than regular feed) that has portrayed the party organisation a complete basket case. “If the elections are held in the near future, the party might not even retain the present tally of 18. We are left with little time to correct the things,” an office bearer of the party said.

Following the issues that has been raised, a crucial meeting of the Jharkhand BJP would be held on Wednesday. Besides the senior party functionaries, district president of the party, MLAs and MPs have been asked to attend the meeting. State BJP spokesperson Sanjay Seth said that the process of the organisational elections will be discussed during the meeting. A fresh appointment of the State BJP president is also on the agenda.

Nevertheless, central BJP asked Raghuwar Das to stay as the party president who soon after becoming the Deputy Chief Minister of the coalition Government had resigned from his post.

But, whether the appointment will be made through election or selection, is another controversial issue dogging the party. A section of the BJP-led by Munda in the past had demanded the appointment of the president through election. The central BJP may find it tough to maintain balance between the warring factions.

In the memory of the last one-decade, elections for the State BJP president was done only once in 2002. The way Abhayakant Prasad got elected against Suryamani Singh was another interesting story.

Within limited period, it will be difficult for the party to rejuvenate the organization as there are three prolems arising at this point: Firstly, membership drive is in tardy process; it is yet to be completed; and another is, the organisational election cannot be kicked-off before completing the first. Third problem is the party’s core committee that often takes crucial view over such matters before holding a larger meeting is defunct from the past eight months.

“My memory supports me to say that after the election, no such meeting of the core committee has been held so far. The core committee plays a crucial role in such matter and here the core committee is looking for a role which it has not been asked for,” senior BJP leader Saryu Rai said.