BJP set to take a ‘reality check’ on strength in states

BJP president Amit Shah has deputed top leaders to take a “reality check” of the party’s organisational strength in states, including in BJP-ruled states and the Northeast. The exercise, ahead of electoral battles in some crucial states such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat, is aimed at ascertaining how strong the party is on the ground, fix problem areas and also expand its base.

This exercise also comes ahead of the big electoral fight of 2019. The party wants to get a “correct picture” of its “actual strength” and will use the feedback from the states to implement “corrective measures” to further strengthen the organisation, sources said. Sources also said that after the exercise was completed, the party top brass, including the Prime Minister, would deliberate on the feedback and take necessary action.

Some of those assigned the task by the central leadership are BJP joint general secretaries Saudan Singh, B.L. Santosh and V. Satish, as well as national general secretary Saroj Pandey. Most of the other general secretaries have also been roped in, sources said. Though each general secretary of the party had already been given charge of an individual state, he or she has been assigned two to three more states for this exercise. For instance, Saudan Singh, it was learnt, has been asked to give feedback on the party’s position and problem areas from Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir and Tripura. Similarly, Saroj Pandey has been assigned Delhi, Orissa and Nagaland.

To get feedback, these senior leaders would be meeting not just senior state leaders but also the party’s karyakartas from the booth levels. Questions about the performance of senior leaders, ministers, MPs and MLAs will also be put to local workers.

They will asked about issues that they think could harm the party’s poll prospects or could be used by the Opposition against it. Feedback would also be taken on various central government schemes.