‘State BJP’s agenda now natl, not local’

SHILLONG, Dec 17: Against the backdrop of the ensuing Assembly polls, fresh apprehensions have come to light that hint at a change of agenda in the State BJP leadership, which focuses more on national issues that may not be of significance for the elections, while sidelining matters concerning the state.
On the condition of anonymity, a local party leader claimed that the saffron party in the state is now in the hands of people from Assam and BJP national secretary Ritu Raj Sinha. They, the leader said, are believed to lead the campaign in a different direction not focusing on local issues.
Party president and MLAs virtually have less say, the local leader said.
He emphasised that party’s priority should be winning Assembly seats in the polls. But the current mood of the party is organisational works, he added.
There is also a feeling among party ranks that organisational matters can be taken care of after polls or it would send a mixed signal to party workers on whether the activities are being carried out for MP elections or state elections.
“The party is a divided house, where Hek’s camp is strongly for withdrawal of support from the government while Shullai’s camp is against it. …withdrawing from the government two months prior to polls could backfire as the BJP has all along been a part of the government,” the BJP leader said.
However, BJP national president JP Nadda and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also the NEDA chairman, have not given the green light so far on the party pulling out of the MDA.
Local leaders from the party feel that in the last elections, the BJP managed only two Assembly seats because of excessive intervention by few leaders deputed from Delhi which marred the campaign. This time around, they claim, continued interference by Ritu Raj and associates, is paving way for history to be repeated.
Crores are spent on billboards and other publicity-related expenditures instead of channelising the party resources to the select 10-15 constituencies where BJP has higher chances of winning, the local party workers said.
They have also lamented that the party leaders from Delhi are calling the shots all by themselves and are not willing to listen to workers or the party’s state president.
It was informed that Ritu Raj and his team are engaged in summoning state BJP leaders, losing valuable time which could be dedicated to field work.
“Ground work is of essence to garner votes but if time is being diverted for non-important work, how can we expect a better turnaround compared to last time,” few leaders said, while ruing that constituency visits have taken a back seat and authoritative orders from a few are issued to others to meet their demands.
Divided camps led by leaders Hek, Mawrie and Chuba Ao would only weaken the party and the differences in opinion are getting wider.
Even the demand for change of party leadership was turned down by central leaders. Leaders fear that the BJP would have to now put in twice the effort with a divided house and a campaign that could be jeopardised by few leaders from Assam and Delhi.