LS, Assembly elections: BJP on lookout for fresh faces

Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 20

The BJP in its ‘high-profile preparation’ mode is on the lookout for new faces for the parliamentary seats as well as the Assembly elections in the state.

The party is looking out for young, dynamic and highly educated contestants for all state constituencies, particularly for the Jammu and Ladakh regions.

A senior party leader, preferring anonymity, said along with the parliamentary/Lok Sabha elections for the three seats from Jammu, the party high command had formed special investigating teams for all constituencies to hunt for local faces in different wards that were highly qualified and had close liaison with the people of the area.

“The party will pick contestants from within the cadre and preferably those aligned with the Sangh. However, the teams have been given a free hand to convince any person, especially any educated youth, to join the BJP, train him on party ideology and prepare him for the Assembly contest,” the party leader added.

Though the BJP pulled out from the coalition on June 19, later blaming its partner PDP for being a big impediment for development in Jammu and Ladakh, it was, however, well-versed with the shortcomings of its own ministers, MLAs and MLCs also who failed to rise to any occasion.

Sources in the party claimed that lack of leadership quality and failure to contest grievances had forced the elected members in the ministry to face public wrath, that had raised a question mark over the BJP’s competence in the government.

“It is likely for Narendra Modi to win another term as the Prime Minister. J&K will benefit from it and can return with good numbers to form the government again. However, the state BJP needs to do the rethinking for a second term,” the party leader said.

Meanwhile, BJP state general secretary (organisation) Narinder Singh did not confirm about any such practice being in place for the state Assembly elections but endorsed the fact that credible, transparent and dedicated people were required.

“The BJP is a political organisation and has dedicated people attached to it. Highly qualified, credible and transparent people should be brought in the frontline to contest the elections. People who can disseminate knowledge among the public and are capable of handling developmental and other issues besides having good governance skills deserve a chance,” Singh added.

Special teams formed

Special investigating teams have been formed to hunt for local faces in different wards of all constituencies, who are highly qualified and had close liaison with the people of the area. The party will pick contestants from within the cadre and preferably those aligned with the Sangh. However, the teams have been given a free hand to convince any person to join the BJP, train him on party ideology and prepare him for the Assembly contest. — Senior BJP leader

‘Educated youth should contest’

The BJP is a political organisation and has dedicated people attached to it. Highly qualified, credible and transparent people should be brought in the frontline to contest the elections. People who can disseminate knowledge among the public and are capable of handling developmental and other issues besides having good governance skills deserve a chance. — Narinder Singh, BJP state general secretary