BJP top guy Santhosh to visit Meghalaya amid fierce internal bickering
Source: Nirendra Dev *

New Delhi, August 28 2022: BJP general secretary, Organisation, B L Santhosh will make a two-day visit to the poll-bound Meghalaya in the first week of September -- may be Sept 2 and 3 .

During his stay in the state capital Shillong, he is likely to meet state office bearers, mandal chiefs and general secretaries and also leaders at district level, all the morcha chiefs and general secretaries.

Sources said he will take a first hand stock of the 'party position' from two sitting legislators, core committee members and also intending candidates.

There are plans to organise one-on-one meetings with a few MLAs and leaders from other parties who could gradually shift allegiance to the saffron party and may be also keen to contest the ensuing polls next year.

It is learnt that with a few of them, BJP in-charge Meghalaya affairs, M Chuba Ao, has already held preliminary and informal talks.

"Discussions were good but no assurance was given for tickets.

because the state party president cannot issue tickets or give such assurance or instructions," a source told this journalist.

Santosh's visit in presence of BJP in-charge Chuba Ao, also a national vice president is quite significant.

There are lobbies within the state unit for replacement of the state party president Mawrie -- whose "performance as well as functioning style" has been questioned in different quarters.

According to a source, out of 2 MLAs, one is minister and other one is MLA.

"Problem is they don't have any coordination between, which is the job of state president to keep them united.

In core committee, as per tradition, all former state presidents should be there , many states doesn't include state treasurer, he is not involved in policy making.

But Meghalaya unit gives importance to treasurer," a source said.

That means proper guidelines are not followed.

State unit president has no right to assure ticket but again guidelines are broken amd even those with 20 percent popularity are assured tickets.

Moreover, booth shakti sashakti karan never given importance, and according to sources even this is neglected in state president's own constituency.

Another source said, to constitute election committee, a core committee meeting discusses is required.

President Mawrie has not assigned any of the ML A or councilor to introduce winnable MLAs.

Shillong-based observers and a few Meghalaya watchers say the BJP has a tough challenge vis-a-vis improving its performance in the predominant Christian state where the saffron outfit's vote share in 2018 was a modest 9.6 percent only.

In fact, three Independent candidates had won against only two by the BJP out of 47 .

And the vote share of all independent candidates stood at 10.8 percent.

"The BJP has to make a significant improvement and thus perhaps needs to fine tune its basic electoral policy," a party insider admitted.

What remains a matter of concern is that in some mandal units/assembly segments; a few intending candidates hardly have "20 percent popularity" according to some independent surveys.

In some states, the BJP central leadership and parliamentary board favour giving tickets to those who can score popularity marks of 65 percent.

The saffron party also examines 'financial angles' - meaning in some states, candidates simply make a beeline for tickets and make use of the opportunity to walk away with the 'party funding' .

"To be in today's politics, one needs to be self-sufficient.

So candidates should be able to run their own kitchen and also shoulder certain responsibilities during calamities and other problems," a source said adding, the party funding cannot be provided for certain basic expenditures and social responsibilities of any individual.

Sources say BJP national vice president M Chuba Ao as the state Prabhari is expected to take the entire party along.

The move to replace state unit president Mawrie has gained currency after word spread that the state Mawrie wants to contest from West Shillong - a typical cosmopolitan segment which houses 50-60 per cent of non-local voters.

Moreover, his style of functioning has puzzled many.

The BJP in the last few years had 'discouraged some ' entrants --- which actually present the state unit chief in poor light.

In West Shillong, the sitting MLA is Mohendra Rapsang from Congress and though people have strong resentment against him, he wants to switch over to the BJP.

Mawrie is more than keen to stall Ropsang's entry and hence he had mooted the idea of 'no ticket for sitting MLAs'.

This was on August 11 .

But a few days later Mawrie had to make a u-turn and suggested he was himself in touch with 5-10 MLAs from other parties.

A section of the party feels the Garo hills should get importance in terms of organisational strengths of the BJP in Meghalaya.

Perhaps the best option on this score would be to 'recommend someone with consensus' .

The concerned leaders might have taken a call.

* The sender of this news can be contacted at nirendev1(AT)gmail(DOT)com .

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