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For the BJP, one of the biggest challenges in four of the five states going to polls next month will be keeping its rank and file united so that it has the best chance at retaining power in one of them now under its control and winning the rest. But its attempts don’t seem to be having any impact in at least two of the states.
As Anand Mohan J reported last month, the decision to field Union Ministers in Madhya Pradesh sparked dissent among some who missed out, with one leader even asking, “What kind of joke is this? … You talk about youth politics and are fielding elderly men?”
A similar scene also seems to be unfolding in Rajasthan. The strategy of fielding seven of its 24 MPs from the state has miffed some BJP leaders who have lost their seats to the parliamentarians. Keep an eye out for Deep Mukherjee’s detailed report on this brewing discontent in the faction-ridden Rajasthan BJP that will be published today. As Deep reported yesterday, the party’s decision to field Rajasmand MP Diya Kumari from Vidhyadhar Nagar has drawn criticism from the constituency’s three-time MLA Narpat Singh Rajvi, the son-in-law of the former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and a Vasundhara Raje loyalist, who has said he is weighing his options.
But do some of the BJP’s leaders think the timing of the announcement of candidates has something with these troubles? As we got to know from the items in today’s Delhi Confidential, some of the leaders and candidates were surprised by the party announcing the candidates during Pitra Paksha, which Hindus consider to be an auspicious time but not good for new beginnings. The BJP usually refrains from making any appointments or taking big decisions during this period, which runs from September 29 to October 14 this year.
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Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann who addressed a rally in the town of Churhat in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district on Tuesday, attacking both the Congress and the BJP, is scheduled to address two rallies today in Rewa district — one in Sirmour and the other in Mauganj. The AAP is focusing on the state’s Vindhya region as it won the mayoral post in Singraulu in the last local body election and received several votes in the region.
The Delhi Police will continue its questioning of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Lokesh Sharma in connection with an FIR registered based on allegations of phone tapping by Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. According to sources, Sharma has been asked to appear along with his mobile phone.
President Droupadi Murmu begins her two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir today. She will attend the convocation ceremony of the University of Kashmir immediately after her arrival and will interact with the members of local tribal groups and women of self-help groups at Raj Bhavan besides attending a civic reception hosted in her honour. The following day, the President will visit the Vaishno Devi shrine. She will also inaugurate a remodelled Parvati Bhavan and skywalk at the shrine before concluding her visit.
In Mumbai, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will lead a roadshow for the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit scheduled to take place in January. He will deliver a speech on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for “Developed Bharat @ 2047”. He will be accompanied by several senior Gujarat ministers and bureaucrats.
— With PTI inputs
