BJP-RSS to Asses Which MPs to Field for LS Polls Based on Survey

The Sangathan Mantris have been asked to determine the BJP MP’s all-rounded work in the constituency, to see if they should be fielded by the party in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. 

(Photo: The Quint/Rahul Gupta)

In a conclave hosted by the top BJP and RSS leaders from 14-18 June in Surajkund, Haryana, the RSS Sangathan Mantris (Ministers) in the BJP were asked to review the performance of all BJP Lok Sabha MPs and submit a report to determine whether these MPs should be given party tickets for the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

According to a report by The Economic Times, the Sangathan Mantris have been asked to determine the BJP MP’s all-round work in the constituency on the basis of these factors:

• Whether he still holds the support of the people and is popular among them
• If he’s been able to take the BJP cadre along
• What his chances of being elected again are

The report has quoted three senior BJP leaders, who spoke on condition of anonymity, that the number of BJP MPs who will be fielded by the party for the Lok Sabha polls is determined largely by this survey.

If you have delivered as an MP in your constituency, then you don’t have to worry. However, if public perception is not in your favour, then however high-profile you might be, you are likely to be dropped. 

One of the BJP leaders to <i>Economic Times </i>

If, according to the survey, the party finds that a certain BJP MP who has been given a party ticket does not have a real possibility of winning in the elections, then they are likely to select other, more qualified candidates, to take their place.

On this note, the Sanghatan Mantris has been asked to submit its report within the next 30 days.

RSS doesn’t get into party affairs, but this meeting was about strengthening the organisation.

A senior RSS leader to <i>Economic Times </i>

Another important topic of discussion at the conclave was how the party was faring in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

According to the report, the sangh is divided into six districts in the state, and accordingly, the heads of each of the prants will be given guidelines on how to counter the combined forces of the BSP and SP – their main competition – and increase its influence in the very districts where the opposition’s presence and popularity is stronger.

Following the conclave, three of the five Sangathan Mantris of UP were dismissed from their posts on this basis. Two out of these Ministers were BJP full-timers who have now been replaced by RSS pracharaks (workers).

The BJP and RSS leaders also discussed about how it was imperative to spot their main competition in the state, which had won over them in the last assembly elections, and also pin-point of where they themselves had gone wrong and lost out on votes, the report adds.

“The message to us from both the PM and party president is that each of us has to work with others to face the challenge in the interests of the country,” another RSS leader told the newspaper. The Sanghathan is also expected to meet with Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah for final discussions following the survey.

(With inputs from Economic Times)