The Bharatiya Janata Party is going through a reappraisal after successive defeats in UP by polls, especially at Kairana. Data based on votes polled in 2017 assembly elections show that if the Opposition parties form a solid phalanx, the BJP may lose nearly 50 seats in 2019. The NDA had won 71 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in 2014. Chief Minister Adityanath has been told to give importance to party leaders with solid organisational background in the ensuing cabinet reshuffle. The party leadership has been asked to strengthen its coordination with the Sangh Parivar. The bureaucracy should be involved less and made to work closely with party leaders. The network of Vistaraks and Panna Pramukhs should play a key role in scripting the party’s strategy. The electoral performance of the Adityanath government has disappointed the BJP high command. The CM and other leaders will now travel to all districts of UP and coordinate with National Joint General Secretary (organisation) Shivprakash Sunil Bansal who has been playing the most significant role in the state organisation. But Bansal has been asked to take two steps back.
What is weakening the party in UP is internal squabbles. Several leaders have approached the national leadership with grievances against Bansal’s style of functioning. The BJP’s national leadership has issued a warning to the party’s state leaders to end factionalism and work together before the 2019 elections. However, indications are that internal strife is intensifying. The party’s UP affairs in charge OP Mathur is also said to be having differences with Bansal. Adityanath himself should not aggravate polarisation. Statements like the Taj Mahal is not part of Indian culture and that Akbar was not great does not boost the BJP’s image.
Indeed, these and other statements pertaining to heritage buildings like the Taj Mahal and the verbal assaults on this wonder of the world have made even those with goodwill towards the Modi Government rethink their stances. Yogi Adityanath is busy polarizing voters instead of governing. At the end of the day people want a good government, not one that is continually provoking one section against another.
