BJP taking time to induct ‘newcomers’

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 26

On a high after its clean sweep in Haryana and spoilt for choice, the state BJP is being approached by several leaders of other political outfits wanting to join the saffron party ahead of the Assembly elections due in October.

Sources say that after the party’s thumping win in the Lok Sabha elections, state unit leaders are being sent feelers from across parties for inclusion into the party.

The decimation of the Congress, the split within the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the poor showing of its splinter group, the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), has leaders of these parties running around to save their identities. In the absence of an alternative, the BJP seems their obvious choice.

Insiders have confirmed that the party is being repeatedly and persistently approached by leaders wanting to strike gold by donning the colours of the saffron party, but the BJP is in no hurry to open its doors to them.

The sources said the state unit would take time. It would first check out the winnability of all prospective “candidates” from their areas with the pre-condition that they must have a clean image and do not seek entry into the party in lieu of immediate returns. Second, the party will weigh them against its own leaders in their areas before giving a green signal.

A senior BJP functionary said, “We don’t want our party to be filled with Congressmen or leaders from the INLD or JJP. Ahead of the Assembly elections, everybody is a ticket-seeker. They want to ride the BJP wave to get into the Vidhan Sabha. The BJP got the lead in more than 85 per cent of the seats. The party has an image to live up to. This is why we do not want to rush into things.”

Party leaders say they are cautious not to become arrogant following the convincing win. They add inducting “newcomers” will take time, while they are not turning away anybody yet. With the Assembly polls just five months away, leaders keen on joining the BJP want to do so before the state goes to polls since their fate in their own parties does not seem promising given the recent drubbing.