Solan MC upgrade boomerangs on BJP

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, April 8

The upgrade of the Solan Municipal Council to a corporation proved to be counter-productive for the BJP as it lost all three wards falling in the merged areas following stern opposition from villagers.

BJP lost Basal Kather, Patrad and Chambaghat Salogra seats to the Congress as residents were opposed to the merger of the panchayats into the Solan MC. Though the BJP had claimed it as their biggest achievement and had criticised the Congress for failing to do so, it acted as a spoilsport for the party.

Even three visits of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur could not enthuse the voters. The last-ditch efforts to announce crores for pending works and remerging the rural areas with panchayats could not influence the voters. They termed the measures too little and too late.

Though the BJP claimed to have the expertise in the poll management, the arrival of various leaders, who had been assigned various wards, did little to improve the party’s prospects. They could not muster support of the electorate. It appears that they merely paid lip service to appease the organisational bosses and strengthen their claims for ticket in the next Vidhan Sabha poll.

A vertical split in the party was visible on the list of candidates as few had potential to win. They had been given ticket merely because of their allegiance to certain leaders. Factionalism has also been exposed in the BJP where key leaders like the district and mandal presidents too lack leadership skills to ensure the party’s victory. Since organisational posts have also been doled out on the basis of favouritism, the absence of mass leaders was visible.