Organisational polls in BJP marred by murmurs

Organisational elections in the party began in January. The procedure involves enrolling of primary members,followed by active members. Next,the Assembly-level booth committees are elected in all 1.68 lakh booths. This is followed by mandal (division) level elections,the district-level elections and state-level elections.

“The verification has been completed and elections have started across the state. We have completed booth committee elections in 54 districts and the mandal level elections have started. We are sure that we will have state elections and a new state body by March-end,” said state party election in-charge Ashok Dhawan.

However,sources in the party said that the membership drive is still on at many places. “We have registered our objections. Officially,the membership drive came to an end on December 20,2009 but members are still being enrolled. Also,the verification has not been completed. So,how can they go ahead with the elections?” said a senior party leader.

A BJP youth leader,who now aspires to join the main party,said: “We haven’t seen the lists being put up in offices in many districts. Even the verification drive is not complete. The elections are just eyewash.”

Mahendra Singh,in-charge of the membership drive,admitted that the process is still on.

“There were some problems in some booths and then the festival season kicked off. Though officially the drive has ended,but still we are enrolling new members,” Singh said.

Dhawan too agreed that verification was incomplete. “In Lucknow and 17 other districts,the verification drive is on. But we are expecting it to be completed soon and the process streamlined,” he said.

BJP’s national election in-charge,Thawarchand Gehlot,said the party was open to complaints and will act on them. “Although we haven’t received any official complaint yet,but we have heard about it. We will get the matter checked,as we want fair polls,” he added.