It’s back-to-grassroots campaign by Chhattisgarh BJP after Kota defeat

Less than a month after suffering defeat in Kota Assembly bypoll, the BJP’s Chhattisgarh unit has finally decided to begin a back-to-grassroots approach to check its slide.

Less than a month after suffering defeat in Kota Assembly bypoll, the BJP’s Chhattisgarh unit has finally decided to begin a back-to-grassroots approach to check its slide.

Chief Minister Raman Singh, in consultation with the state BJP chief, Vishnudev Sai, has directed his ministers to hear and resolve public grievances at a camp being conducted in the state capital. The move, which has been started in an effort to check Congress’ upward swing under former chief minister Ajit Jogi, the senior BJP leaders have assigned a day for each member of the Raman Singh Cabinet for hearing and working out the problems of common people. A detailed time-table has been prepared and ministers will take turns in trying to solve people’s problems.

And in what seems to be an attempt at imminent preparation for the Assembly polls scheduled for later part of 2008, according to party sources, each of these ministers has also been directed to start touring villages and cities in all 90 Assembly constituencies. A detailed itinerary for each minister is being prepared with the party hoping each of them to be on the road for about 10 days every month.

Story continues below this ad

Sources claimed that the party was forced into taking such a drastic step as it was shocked by the over 21000 vote margin with which the Congress candidate, Renu Jogi, won from the Kota Assembly constituency.

Chief Minister Raman Singh, however, refused to accept that the recent bypoll had any bearing on the recent party decision.

Speaking to The Indian Express, the Chief Minister said there was an urgent need to reach to the grassroots and spread awareness regarding the ongoing policies of the government. “We have to treat all 90 Assembly seats as our own and try and groom these equally,” the Chief Minister added.

However, the much-publicised public hearing has run into rough weather within the first few days of its operation with several of the ministers taking a non-serious approach towards it. Several of the senior Cabinet ministers have refused to attend the camp. Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam and Panchayati Raj Minister Ajay Chandrakar, who were supposed to attend the camp on the first and third day, respectively, have stayed away from the back-to-grassroots approach of the party.

Story continues below this ad

Tourism and Revenue Minister Brij Mohan Agarwal has been the lone Cabinet member so far to have attended the camp on its second day. Agarwal is also the MLA representing Raipur, where the camp is being conducted.