New Delhi: An initial assessment of Bawana bypoll results by the BJP has revealed that internal sabotage was the prime reason for the defeat of saffron party candidate. It is reliably learnt that state BJP has identified 18 leaders who had worked against the party during poll campaign. Among the leaders being blamed for the party’s humiliating defeat are West Delhi MP and Bawana bypoll in-charge Pravesh Verma and some former BJP MLAs.
Sources said an internal report submitted to state chief Manoj Tiwari has categorically named 18 local leaders for working against the party candidate. The names also include former MLAs Manoj Shokeen, Rajesh Gehlot, and district president Neel Daman Khatri.
“Mr Verma and the other three leaders were simply busy in glorifying their names rather than campaigning for the party candidate,” a local party leader said, adding, “The West Delhi MP was even busy in projecting himself as the party’s next CM candidate.”
The report also blamed former legislator Kulwant Rana, North Delhi Municipal Corporation councillors Anju Aman and Poonam Sehrawat, and many office-bearers for party’s poor show.
Senior leaders said that other reasons why the party failed to win the bypoll was poor strategies adopted by planned by state office-bearers.
“After sidelining everyone, these senior office bearers took control of the poll preparation and campaign management. Instead of focusing on key issues, they led a directionless campaign. Even after voting was over, Mr Babbar claimed that BJP candidate will win by a margin of over 10,000 votes,” said the senior party leader.
Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta’s role is also being cited as one of the reasons for the defeat.
“Mr Gupta forced the party leadership to field Mr Prakash, who had joined the party ahead of civic polls in April after resigning as the MLA from the same constituency. Even posters put across Bawana did not carry photos of party president Amit Shah and state chief Manoj Tiwari. About missing photos of Mr Shah and Mr Tiwari, Mr Gupta clarified that some strategy had to be finalised and not using their photos was part of that strategy,” he added.
