By L.S. Herdenia
BHOPAL: A visit by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to the RSS headquarters in Bhopal past midnight gave rise to the speculation that alarm signals are coming about the critical position of party candidates. Before the chief minister’s visit party president Amit Shah too held mid-night consultations with the local boss of the Sangh. Chouhan probably did not expect his visit to catch media’s attention, but one enterprising photo-journalist photographed the CM entering “Samidha”, as the RSS headquarters is known. The picture was published on the front page of a newspaper.
With a close finish looking increasingly likely in the election, it is believed that the CM held discussion on a last-minute change in strategy in areas where BJP candidates are on shaky turf.
During ticket distribution in early November, the Sangh Parivar had suggested changes in more than 85 constituencies on the basis of feedback gathered on aspirants. However, BJP gave a free hand to Chouhan, who dropped only 54 sitting MLAs and effected minor changes in constituencies.
It is learnt that during the 90-minute meeting the CM discussed with Madhya Pradesh RSS head Deepak Vispute core issues related to the poll campaign in weaker constituencies. According to reports, the discussion focused on 60 seats where BJP candidates don’t seem to be performing well. Sources said the party will intensify campaigning in these seats. Top leaders have been told to reach out to farmers and government employees after their “dull response to the party manifesto”.
“BJP is concerned about negative feedback on some assembly seats. During recent meetings, the Sangh Parivar had suggested changes in some constituencies but to no avail. The RSS cadre was also not satisfied with ticket distribution. The party has decided to intensify campaigning in some weak areas”, said a senior RSS functionary.
He disclosed that BJP’s poll manifesto had failed to enthuse farmers, women and government employees. Farmers feel their problems due to intermittent power cut and irregularities in urea supply have not been properly addressed he added.
During his recent Bhopal visit, BJP president Amit Shah had also discussed the poll strategy in a mid-night meeting after reports of negative feedback in some areas. The result was that more senior members were deployed in Chambal area to manage the poll campaign.
With just a couple of days to go for voting, BJP is switching from campaigning to person-to-person contact in many areas. The party’s strategy to rope in star campaigners in Chambal, Bundelkhand, Malwa and Nimar is part of the intensified campaigning to counter Congress, said sources, pointing out that the last poll meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shan will be in Malwa-Nimar.
Perhaps after the visits by Shah and the chief minister RSS activists have joined the campaign in a big way. The RSS is conscious of the fact that the BJP’s attitude towards prevention of atrocities on SC-ST Act has alienated substantial portion of the upper caste voters. In order to win them over RSS volunteers have initiated a door-to-door campaign. They are visiting houses of Hindus and requesting them to sign what is called “Sankalp Patra”. The “Sankalp Patra” wants signatories to assure that they will vote ignoring their narrow interests like loyalty to caste and partisan politics. On the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti RSS organised programmes in various residential colonies and urged people to sign the Sankalp Patra. They claim that on single day they obtained signatures of more than 20,000 persons in Bhopal alone. They propose to hit the figure of two lakh. RSS functionaries explain that the objective is to overcome the divisive forces which have polluted the Hindu society because of the Atrocity Act.”We are not asking people to vote to one party we only want people to remember higher moral values,” said one RSS worker.
Meanwhile, many BJP candidates continue to face hostile crowds. In some cases hostility is so grave that even ministers are not leaving their constituencies, giving undivided attention to their constituencies. They include minister Gopal Bhargava, eight term MLA who never faced serious challenge in his constituency. Besides Congress he is facing challenges from BSP and Gondwana Gantantra Party. Similar is the case with Bhupendra Singh. Narottam Mishra, a powerful minister, too is finding the contest tough in comparison to earlier elections. Yashodhara Raje Scindia, a member of Scindia family, is finding the election tougher this time compeered to past. Anoop Mishra, nephew of late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has been shifted from Lok Sabha to Vidhan Sabha. He too left his constituency only to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public meeting in Gwalior. Industries Minister Rajendra Shukla is finding the contest difficult due to factional division in the BJP.
The sadhus and sants have stepped up their campaign against the Chief Minister and BJP. A congregation of sadhus was held on the bank of Narmada near Jabalpur. Addressing the gathering Maha Mandleshwar Vairagganand said that they have decided to install a Congress government by throwing out Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The meeting adopted a resolution deploring the role of the BJP government in destroying Narmada. Computer Baba in his speech coined a slogan against Shivraj: “Yadi pap Karen Shivraj to kaise maaf karen Maharaj” (If Shivraj commits a sin how can sadhus forgive him. (IPA Service)
The post Chouhan’s Midnight Trip To RSS Office Signals Worries appeared first on Newspack by India Press Agency.
