Amit Shah's poll supervisors to end factionalism'

New Delhi: In an attempt to end factionalism in the party state unit, BJP president Amit Shah had on Friday appointed four senior leaders to supervise the polls in the national
capital.

Sources said that these leaders will assist and coordinate with state president Manoj Tiwari. Meanwhile, six Lok Sabha members of BJP from the city, including Mr Tiwari, met at the residence of Union minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Friday and discussed the preparations related to the civic polls. It also discussed the activities of the group indulged in factionalism, which is adversely affecting the party prospect in the polls.

Mr Shah had appointed a team of four Central leaders to supervise the municipal elections. “Rajya Sabha member and party vice president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Jitendra Singh, and Sanjeev Balyan have been appointed to monitor the civic polls,” said BJP national general secretary Arun Singh in a statement, adding that Rajya Sabha member Shyam Jaju will continue to work as the state in-charge.

Party leaders said that the appointment was done to give more power to Mr Tiwari over a faction which is dominating party affairs in the city. A party insider said that last month during a core committee meeting, in which party national general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal was also present, Lok Sabha members complained about factionalism and said that one leader and few Delhi BJP office bearers are
running a parallel organisation.

“Even in yesterday’s meeting, which was attended by six Lok Sabha members, it was the general complaint that factionalism within the party is at an all-time high. The sentiment of the Lok Sabha members and other senior leaders has been conveyed to party’s national leadership,” he added.

In view of existing factionalism, Mr Shah has decided to appoint four leaders who will work with Mr Tiwari to ensure BJP’s victory in the April 22 civic polls,” he added.

The move also shows how serious the Central leadership is about the upcoming civic polls. “BJP takes every election very seriously and we fight to win. The eyes of the entire nation are on it. People want that the ugly heads of anarchism and dynastic politics be disallowed to surface here again and hence it becomes a crucial poll. It’s a cosmopolitan city and hence a team comprising functionaries from different states has been formed. We will decisively show that Delhi rejects anarchy and dynasty, lock, stock and barrel,” said Mr Sahasrabuddhe.