BJP set to postmortem 2009 LS poll defeat

In 2004,BJP lost the seat by a margin of 5,000 plus votes. The margin increased to 18,906 votes in the 2009 LS elections,even though the party fielded a stronger candidate.

Satyadeo Pachauri who won from Arya Nagar assembly seat in 1996 was the party’s Lok Sabha candidate in 2004. In 2009,five-time sitting MLA from Cantt assembly segment,Satish Mahana,was the party candidate. District General Secretary Surendra Maithani said: “Over 150 senior party members,including members of district and working committees,youth wings,party candidates in 2007 assembly election and former district presidents have been called for Saturday’s meeting.” He pointed out that the defeat has become a serious issue,as Kanpur was previously a BJP stronghold. “From 1991 to 1999,we won the seat thrice,but thereafter,have tasted three successive defeats from Congress,” remarked Maithani. He claimed that the review meeting will last for over four hours and will cover the smallest detail like number of votes polled on each booth. “The state committee has identified 24 Lok Sabha seats of UP,where the BJP has lost by a margin of less than 20,000 votes and Kanpur is one of them,” said Maithani.

Though the senior district members remained silent on the differences within the party cadre,the issue is likely to crop up in the Saturday meeting. “We have to rectify our mistakes and ensure that we will win on all five assembly seats of Kanpur in the next state elections,” he added. ens

Party gears up for by-polls
The BJP has appointed observers for all the 12 Assembly constituencies where by-elections will be held soon. The party has asked the observers to visit the constituencies and get feedback. The seats are Malihabad,Lucknow West,Kolasla,Morna,Jhansi,Padrauna,Mughalsarai,Rari,Bharthana,Bidhuna,Moradabad West and Powayan.