Thakre names three new general secys

With most of the BJP’s senior leaders now in government, second-rung leaders have been inducted into the party organisation. Former BJP president L K Advani’s is a tough act to follow and Thakre’s new team will be expected to carry out the BJP’s aim to consolidate and expand its support base. Thakre consulted both Advani andPrime Minister A B Vajpayee before finalising his team.

Several leaders who have not found a place in the Union council of ministers have been accomodated in the party set-up. Thakre explained the delay in announcing his team, saying that he had been waiting for Vajpayee to expand his Cabinet as the party had decided that those who are ministers should not be made officebearers. “Since the PM has decided against Cabinet expansion for now, I have appointed my team,” he said.

There are five vacancies (one vice-president, one national secretary and three National executive members). Thakre was said to have kept this leeway for himself in order to accomodate leaders after the Cabinet expansion.

The BJP’s six frontal organisations also have new heads. Maya Singh, sister-in-law of Vijaya Raje Scindia and also from MP, is the new Mahila Morcha president, while Larang Sai (another MP leader) heads the ST Morcha. Other presidents are Ramashish Rai (Yuva Morcha), Munni Lal Ram (SC Morcha), Hukumdev NarayanYadav (Kisan Morcha) and Mir Ahmed Ali Khan (Minority Morcha).

Besides MP, Bihar is better represented than most other states. On the other hand, the western region — Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan — seems to have fewer leaders on the new team.

However, Thakre has done a careful balancing act to give representation to women, minorities and SC/STs/OBCs. It was pointed out that it was for the first time in the BJP’s history that an SC (S P Gautam) had been given the post of general secretary. Modi is an OBC. There are 10 SC/STs, 13 women and eight minorities in Thakre’s team. The BJP constitution has no provision for inclusion of minorities though it stipulates representation for women and SC/STs.

Among the vice presidents, K Jana Krishnamurthy and K L Sharma continue. As many as three of the new vice presidents are from Bihar — Kailashpati Mishra, Mridula Sinha (former Mahila Morcha president) and Karia Munda (ST). Bangaru Laxman (former Andhra Pradesh unit president and an SC), whose name wasbeing floated for ministership, has also been made vice president. The exclusion of former vice president O Rajgopal is being seen as a hint that he will be inducted into the Cabinet later.