On BJP high command report card, many MLAs set to lose ticket

It is the appraisal season in Bharatiya Janata Party’s Rajasthan unit.

The BJP’s central leadership is busy preparing a report card of ministers and MLAs to evaluate their performance in the run up to the assembly polls in state scheduled for later this year. The performance review is likely to result in a large number of elected representatives being denied ticket to contest the polls.

The report card is being prepared on basis of a survey that was conducted by the high command to get feedback on the ground situation and the perception of the ministers and MLAs among the electorate.

Party sources familiar with the development said those elected representatives who have performed well and who have got a positive feedback will be given the party ticket for the assembly polls. Sources say nearly 100 MLAs stand to lose their ticket due to non-performance. The party had won 160 of the 200 assembly seats in the 2013 state polls.

The results of the bypolls to three seats — two parliamentary and one assembly, in January 2018 indicated widespread anti-incumbency against chief minister Vasundhara Raje’s government. The BJP’s vote share too saw a sharp dip in the constituencies where bypolls were held, as compared to 2013.

After the bypoll loss, there was a demand from some quarters within the BJP for a change in the state leadership.

Sources say the high command understands that an organistaional shake-up is required to revitalize the party ahead of the assembly elections. Given the scale of anti-incumbency against the BJP government, the central leadership is not taking any chances.

At least four major communities —Dalits, Rajputs, Gujjars and Jats — have expressed their resentment against the ruling dispensation.

The state BJP unit has remained headless for over a month after Ashok Parnami, who was held responsible for the bypoll loss, resigned as the state party president on March 16.

While BJP leaders say the announcement of a new party chief was held up due to the Karnataka elections, the stalemate between the central and state leadership over a suitable candidate has also delayed the announcement. While central leadership is keen on appointing Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhwat to the post, the move is being opposed by Raje camp. On the other hand, Shah has rejected the names of leaders suggested by the chief minister.

Party leaders admit that the delay in the election of a new president is creating confusion among workers.

Now, with Karnataka elections over, the party, sources said, is likely to announce the state party chief soon after which they will get into election mode.

Sources said party national president Amit Shah has also get a report prepared on the state unit. After the announcement of the state party president, new faces will also be brought in to the organisation to create an effective team of office bearers in the run up to the polls.