BJP plans new strategy as Poonia’s removal boomerangs

Prime Minister Modi is highly displeased with the leaders who sought organisational reshuffle in the state’.

The BJP leadership is contemplating to prepare a new strategy for the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly elections. What is bothering the saffron party is that all its decisions so far have been counterproductive.

If sources are to be believed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is highly displeased with the leaders who sought organisational reshuffle in the state. The change of BJP unit leadership did not benefit the party. C.P. Joshi who was appointed BJP state unit president replacing Satish Poonia could not deliver much. The tussle among over half-a-dozen contenders for CM post is still on. State in-charge Arun Singh has himself become a party to the tussle. PM Modi is now taking care of Rajasthan affairs himself. But there has been no improvement despite that. PM Modi is visiting Rajasthan frequently, announcing various sops for the state. PM Modi is scheduled to address a public rally at Sikar this month where he will announce big packages for farmers. Earlier, he visited Bikaner this month only.

In fact, PM Modi is trying to showcase the central government

’s schemes in response to Gehlot’s welfare programmes. But BJP leaders, who are a divided lot, are not reaching out to the public to apprise it of the Centre’s schemes. BJP is faction ridden in Rajasthan. Former CM Vasundhara Raje is a big power centre. Raje loyalists claim that she is going to be CM face of the BJP. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has also emerged as a strong contender for CM post. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is also in the race. The BJP leadership wanted to project Shekhawat as BJP’s CM candidate in 2018. But Raje had then spoiled his chances. Similarly, Rajendra Rathore and Arjun Meghwal are eyeing the CM chair. According to speculation, Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw could be a surprise candidate amid the intense tussle.

In fact, all these leaders started nurturing ambition after the party’s defeat in 2018. They believed that the BJP leadership would not give Raje another chance. When the leadership appointed Satish Poonia as BJP chief in Rajasthan, it was seen as a signal that new faces would be given big roles. Poonia was quite active. He worked hard despite non-cooperation from colleagues over the last four years. The BJP leadership assured Poonia that the polls will be fought under his leadership. But suddenly the leadership carried out a reshuffle. MP CP Joshi was given state president post replacing Poonia. Rajendra Rathore was appointed LoP in what was seen as an indication that Raje will not be projected as CM face. What was more stunning was that Poonia was given the post of deputy leader in the Assembly despite the fact he headed the party for four years.

Sources say that the contenders for the CM post created pressure on the PM for a change of guard in the party in Rajasthan. The argument that they gave was that with the change in leadership, the party will be united. As a result, the PM took the decision to change the state president. Politically less experienced than others, C.P. Joshi could not unite the party. Leaders do not come to the function he organises.

The leaders pitch for unity when they speak from the dais of PM Modi, Amit Shah and J.P. Nadda, but the situation gets back to square one the moment these leaders leave the state. The gathering was not impressive at the PM Modi’s rally in Ajmer due to factionalism. After this, Arjun Meghwal succeeded in pulling crowds for the Bikaner rally. Now, Modi will address a rally at Sikar on 27 July. This rally was earlier planned at Nagore. All eyes will be on this rally as it is being held in Jat dominated region where Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra holds tremendous clout. BJP’s strategy is to focus on PM Modi’s charisma. Other senior leaders will be given area-wise responsibilities. BJP is keen to wrest Rajasthan from Congress. There might be more organisational changes in BJP in days to come.