UP BJP unit to identify probable rebel leaders

Before declaring its candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, the UP BJP has for the first time started an exercise to identify leaders who could rebel if denied tickets and thus harm the party’s prospects in their respective constituencies.

The party is likely to declare its Lok Sabha candidates after March 2 when its prime minister candidate Narendra Modi addresses a rally in Lucknow.
Party state general secretary Swatantra Dev Singh, in a letter to all the officer-bearers of state executive, regional and district units, has also asked them to prepare a list of probable “rebel” leaders and identify those who could convince them in favour of the party.

The party has sought another list of such party workers who are “unhappy” with the party and are keeping a distance from party activities. The party would depute leaders to cajole these workers.  State president Laxmikant Bajpai said: “This is a damage control exercise ahead of the declaration of candidates so that probable rebel workers could be convinced in the favour of the party in time before the elections.”  A senior leader said rebel workers had earlier damaged the party’s chances in several constituencies.