Infighting threat to BJP’s dreams
The party depends heavily on Modi magic in MP, Chhattisgarh and Delhi.
New Delhi: The BJP, relying heavily on the Narendra Modi ‘magic’ to win the ongoing state elections, is getting feedback that while it is comfortable in Madhya Pradesh and will retain power in Chhattisgarh, in Rajasthan it faces a tough fight from the Congress, now ruling the state.
In Delhi, infighting, disunity and rebel candidates are hurting it badly.
Top BJP leaders, busy campaigning in other poll-bound states, are passive on campaigning in Delhi. The BJP’s poll managers are, therefore, heavily banking on Mr Modi who will campaign in Delhi for three days.
On the basis of this feedback, after ticket distribution got over, the party’s poll managers have put Madhya Pradesh on top in order of performance in the Assembly polls, while Delhi is in fourth place. Sources said while the party was confident it could win Rajasthan back from the Congress, rebel candidates and resentment over ticket distribution may affect its poll prospects.
Ex-Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje’s opponents within the party are miffed over most Ms Raje loyalists being fielded in the polls. Sources said despite intervention by the central leadership, there is a threat of rebellion by those denied tickets, including some senior leaders. In Chhatti-sgarh, the party managed to pacify most of those disgruntled over ticket distribution.