BJP seeks Sangh help to pacify rebel workers

BJP leaders have sought the RSS’ help to pacify the more than 100 party workers who are rebelling against the party. Hamari Jamatia reports.

BJP leaders have sought the RSS’ help to pacify the more than 100 party workers who are rebelling against the party.

In the past two days, a dozen RSS workers have been deployed to go from ward to ward, listen to rebels’ grievances and resolve their resentment.

One such RSS worker said that in many cases, giving a patient hearing was all it took to appease an angry worker. “During election time, most big leaders are busy and party workers feel neglected as they don’t take their calls. When we listen to them, they feel lighter,” he said.

As several rebel BJP workers have filed in nominations as independent candidates, one of the jobs assigned to RSS workers is to convince them to take back the nominations. According to party insiders, there are more than 50 rebel BJP candidates who have filed nominations to make sure that the candidate chosen by the BJP does not win.

The rebel candidates include BJP councillor Prabha Singh and Harish Awasthi, who filed their nomination to contest as independent candidates after they were denied tickets. Meanwhile, BJP councillors Vijay Pundit and Raj Khurana fielded their wives against the party’s official candidates.

“There are women who have been working for the party for more than 20 years, and yet tickets were given to newcomers who no one knows,” complained a member. The team met national president Nitin Gadkari to sort out their problems.