Rajnath backs Raman, says no room for indiscipline

“Raman Singh is an able leader under whom Chhattisgarh can become a developed state like Haryana and Punjab…The state unit has been told to prepare for elections next year and present before the people of Chhattisgarh the progress made under the BJP Government,” he said.

On the growing dissidence in the state unit, the BJP chief said his was a democratic party and everyone was free to air their opinion. However, at a meeting with senior party leaders, the BJP chief is understood to have made it clear to the dissident faction that indiscipline in the party ranks would not be tolerated.

The state unit has been facing dissidence over the past few weeks with seven MLAs making a trip to New Delhi last month to complain against the style of functioning of the Chief Minister, growing corruption levels and the alleged attempt by his Government to systematically undermine and marginalise tribal leaders.

Interestingly, not even a single tribal MLA or MP from the state went to the airport to receive the BJP chief. Chhattisgarh BJP has been hit by factionalism ever-since Nanki Ram Kanwar, one of the senior-most leaders in the state, was dropped from the Cabinet.