‘Govt decisions, controversial speeches annoyed masses’

The state government’s decisions about integration of schools, limiting scope of free medicine scheme, reviewing the pension scheme, and controversial statements by the BJP leaders played a major role in party’s defeat

The state government’s decisions about integration of schools, limiting scope of free medicine scheme, reviewing the pension scheme, and controversial statements by the BJP leaders played a major role in party’s defeat.

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According to sources in the party, the RSS activists had apprised the state leaders of adverse impact created by integration of schools whereby many schools were closed. Adding salt to the wound, education minister Kali Charan Saraf gave a critical comment against teaching community during his Teachers’ Day speech.

Saraf had reportedly raised question mark over capabilities of the teachers. The teaching community had protested his remark and even submitted a memorandum to the CM.

“We received messages from various quarters about the adverse impact that integration of schools and controversial speeches had not gone well with the people,” said a leader while displaying one such message at the party office on Tuesday.

The government’s decision of linking free medicine scheme with Food Security Act, thus limiting its scope, also had its adverse impact. The government had also stopped the pension scheme for some time to review it which sent a wrong message among the masses, various leaders pointed out.

“Ola sansad mein kabhi nahin bola (Ola never spoke in the Parliament). Ahlawat had said commented in one of his speeches during campaign for by-polls,” said a party leader.

Meanwhile, the results have forced the ruling party to do home work ahead of polls for local bodies and panchayat samitis. “We will analyse the results and certainly work on the loopholes,” said state BJP president Ashok Parnami.