BJP announces reshuffle in four states

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday announced new state unit chiefs in Delhi, Bihar, Odisha and Rajasthan with an eye on strengthening the party ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday announced new state unit chiefs in Delhi, Bihar, Odisha and Rajasthan with an eye on strengthening the party ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Of the four states, Rajasthan will hold assembly polls later this year.

HT Image

According to functionaries, the appointments were made in line with the party’s attempts to balance the caste outreach -- of the four, two come from other backward classes (OBC), and two from upper caste communities.

“All four leaders are known for their organisational skills and are expected to not only revamp the party units ahead of the general elections, but also tide over issues of internal disagreements and differences that can derail the party’s electoral campaign,” said a senior party leader, requesting anonymity.

In Rajasthan, the party’s central leadership appointed two-time parliamentarian from Chittorgarh and Brahmin face CP Joshi as the state unit president. He replaces Satish Poonia, a Jat leader who has a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) background. In the desert state that has a history of voting out the incumbent, the party leadership has had to step in several times in recent months to resolve intraparty squabbles.

“There were several instances when the internal bickering in the state was reported to the central leadership, which sent a clear message to the state leaders to set aside their differences and focus on preparing for the assembly elections. The issue was addressed by both party president JP Nadda and national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh,” said the party leader quoted above.

He referred to an incident in January last year when supporters of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje threatened to float a new faction. The appointment of Joshi as the president, and Gulab Chand Kataria as the governor of Assam, is being perceived as a shot in the arm for Raje, considered a leader with pan-Rajasthan support. “There will be a consolidation of the Jat vote in favour of Raje with Poonia’s exit,” the leader cited above said.

Rajasthan has a political history of voting out the incumbent party in assembly elections. In the last few rounds of polls, two-time CM Raje has swapped power with her arch rival, sitting chief minister Ashok Gehlot, but in recent years, was locked in a tussle for control of the party with Poonia.

In Odisha, former state minister Manmohan Samal, an OBC leader who started his career in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the RSS, will head the party unit in a state where the BJP is looking to increase its footprint.

The BJP leadership has announced that it will take on the ruling Biju Janata Dal in a direct electoral battle. Samal, who replaces Samir Mohanty, is seen as an “old-school leader, well versed in organisational matters” said a second party functionary. Odisha goes to the polls next year, along with the Lok Sabha elections.

“He was part of the state government when the BJP-BJD alliance was in power till 2008. His elevation is expected to lead to a resurgence in the party as he is considered a sangathan (organisational) man who can steer the party’s electoral strategy,” said the second functionary cited above.

In Bihar, the elevation of Koeri leader Samrat Chaudhary, replacing Sanjay Jaiswal, is seen as a sharp move to consolidate the party’s position among the most backward classes, which includes the Kushwaha community that is considered to wield political heft.

“After the BJP broke ties with the JD(U) it has been trying to woo the Kurmis and the Koeris who are the latter’s votebank. There has been talk of Kushwaha leader Upendra Khushwaha and his Rashtriya Lok Samata Party joining the NDA, but with this appointment, the party has made a strong indication that it wants to rely on its own leaders to strengthen its outreach,” said a third party leader, requesting anonymity.

A member of the legislative council, Chaudhary served as a minister in the Rashtriya Janata Dal government in 1999 and joined the BJP in 2018.

In Delhi, Virendra Sachdeva who was announced as the working president will now head the state unit. Referred to as a “soft-spoken, amiable leader” by his party colleagues, Sachdeva began his political career in 1988 and was associated with the RSS.

“He has a way with people and does not alienate party colleagues. In Delhi, his hold over the Old Delhi traders’ association and his network in the east will be helpful in helping the party revive the state unit that has faced several electoral defeats in the assembly elections and more recently in the local body polls,” said a state leader, requesting anonymity.