BJP bosses fume over T20 trophy mismanagement

New Delhi: Miffed over the way the Delhi BJP organised the T20 “Yamuna Challenge Cricket Trophy 2017” to reach out to youth, the party’s central leadership has pulled up the state unit leadership and directed it to correct the things and to also involve the state office-bearers for a successful tournament.

On November 21, Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari had announced that the party will be organising a T20 tournament which will be played among 280 teams from across the national capital from November 28. He also formed a 21-member organising committee.

According to party sources, the central leadership was unhappy with the way the state office-bearers were sidelined and the participants were demanded an amount of Rs 11,000 as an entry fee. Notably, the T20 tournament is the brainchild of Mr Tiwari.

According to a party insider, central leadership raised eyebrows mainly on two issues — the entry fee and the fact that the majority of the organising committee members were outsiders.

“A senior central leader pointed out that if any event or programme is organised by the party, party office-bearers or workers must be included in the organising committee. Questions were raised on the issue of Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari and other party Lok Sabha members sharing the stage with the sponsors of the event,” he said.

Questioning the Rs 11,000 entry fee, the central leadership has also directed the city unit to deposit all the money to the party account.

Acting quickly on the direction, Mr Tiwari and the organising committee has agreed to induct all the 30 odd state office-bearers in the district organising committee along with the district president and local Lok Sabha members. Sources also pointed out that a few of the Lok Sabha members were unhappy with the way they were ignored in the whole exercise. They were informed late and it was visible with their presence in the launch function.

About 280 teams from across the city will participate in the T20 tournament.