NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party is planning to make massive changes at the organisational level in half a dozen states, keeping an eye on the assembly elections in 2022 and in 2023 and the Lok Sabha polls in 2014.
It includes change of the state leadership in the states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The process of the organisational changes began last week from Madhya Pradesh where its organising general secretary Suhas Bhagat was reverted back to the RSS, as per the decision taken in its pratinidhi sabha in Ahmedabad, promoting joint general secretary Hitanand Sharma in his post. Madhya Pradesh is due for Assembly polls at the end of 2023.
Uttar Pradesh organising general secretary Sunil Bansal is tipped to be the new organising general secretary in Rajasthan. The party has to also appoint the new president in Uttar Pradesh since the present incumbent Swatantra Dev Singh has become a minister in the state government.
The Congress-ruled Rajasthan poses a big challenge to the BJP since the party is divided into three factions. While one camp is pressing to make former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje its chief ministerial candidate, though the leadership is contemplating to contest the next election collectively and it is looking for a leader who can be effective in the organisation who does not come under any pressure and who is also effective.
Another problem state for the BJP is Karnataka facing an increased factionalism. The party has still not made up its mind to appoint a new state president or allow Basavraj Bommai to expand the ministry despite his rounds to Delhi every month to seek the permission.
In Himachal Pradesh, BJP President J P Nadda has declared to go to polls under the leadership of present chief minister Jairam Thakur, quashing a speculation that the party will contest the election with I&B Minister Anurag Thakur as the chief ministerial candidate.
The party is also planning changes in its Maharashtra unit with indications that it may opt for former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to take the responsibility in the elections.
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