The Bharatiya Janata Party’s decision to replace sitting MP Yashwant Sinha with his son Jayant Sinha in Hazaribagh has triggered resentment among the BJP workers who hold that the move would only help the rival party.
Reason: Jayant doesn’t match his father’s popularity, opine BJP leaders in Hazaribagh, who claim the move would ruin the party’s chances of retaining the seat. A group of leaders has already decided to quit and join rival parties.
But, Jayant’s profile is not unimpressive as a professional. He is an MBA from the Harvard Business School, holds an MS degree in energy management and policy from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a B Tech from IIT, Delhi and has more than 20 years of experience in investing and strategy consulting.
“Degrees from international universities are no criteria to become a popular politician and good administrator,” said a disgruntled BJP worker, refusing to be named.
“Jayant will take no less than 10 years to match the popularity of his father, let alone inheriting his qualities,” said former Hazaribagh district president, Raj Kumar Lal. “The decision has now given the Congress an edge,” he added.
District BJP secretary Ajay Sahu too has a similar opinion about junior Sinha. “The BJP has played a gamble on the seat it would have won hands down if Yashwant was repeated,” Sahu said. Party’s district treasurer Vivekanand Singh and executive member K P Ojha observed that the ‘insensible’ decision had cleared the road for BJP rivals.
{{/usCountry}}District BJP secretary Ajay Sahu too has a similar opinion about junior Sinha. “The BJP has played a gamble on the seat it would have won hands down if Yashwant was repeated,” Sahu said. Party’s district treasurer Vivekanand Singh and executive member K P Ojha observed that the ‘insensible’ decision had cleared the road for BJP rivals.
{{/usCountry}}Jayant doesn’t react to the allegations. “I know it is a very major responsibility granted to me by my father and the party. The road ahead would be tough indeed. But I wish to assert that being his son and armed with the right qualification and experience, I would deliver the desired result,” he said while taking a flight for Ranchi from Delhi.
Insiders said that it was Yashwant’s decision to pass on the baton to his son, who is hardly known to the voters in the countryside. With the Modi wave sweeping , Yashwant is hopeful that lesser known candidates like his son can sail through, insiders say.