Poor show in Chandigarh MC poll: Questions raised over BJP leadership

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 12

In the last Municipal Corporation poll, the city BJP had won 20 seats out of 21 seats it contested. Its performance in the 2021 poll, after the change of the guard, has fallen in a big way as it could win only 12 seats out of 35 seats the party fought on.

Anti-incumbency and various other poll factors, including matters at the party level such as wrong ticket distribution, mismanagement and degrading organisation structure, are being blamed by some BJP leaders for the poor performance of the party.

“During campaigning, micro-management by the local leadership was not there. Local party teams were not there to support the candidates, while the BJP teams from Delhi put in a lot of efforts. The city president did not campaign in wards other than those of his favourites,” said a party leader.

“We could have won a minimum of 6-7 more seats. Sitting councillors, including Gurpreet Singh Dhillon and Raj Bala Malik, who were strong players in their respective wards, were made to sit. In their place, lightweight candidates from outside were given ticket. They did not have mass connect and liking. This even broke the morale of our workers, who then worked half-heartedly,” said another leader.

It is also being said by some leaders that all were not taken along and only three or four core team members were mostly involved in the day-to-day affairs of the party.

Some feel during the tenure of previous president Sanjay Tandon, the party management was comparatively better than now. However, some party leaders felt otherwise. “Tandon was fortunate that at that time in 2016 there was a massive wave in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the elections were fought in the background of demonetisation. Secondly, AAP was not in the contest. Even in this election, Tandon was involved in all meetings and developments.”

A leader from the Sood camp said, “In 2016, Sood was the Mayor and the BJP won the elections based on his 10-month works. Works such as getting funds for the additional water supply project and introducing mechanised cleaning of roads were appreciated by people.”

“The party structure is stronger today than before. Besides, as far as ticket distribution is concerned, it is not decided by one person, but by the party,” he added.

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