BJP Readies for State Polls, Changes in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh

New Delhi: With the state elections closing in, the BJP got cracking in the Hindi heartland, particularly in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. While major organisational changes are expected in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the BJP, in a bid to consolidate its position in Madhya Pradesh has decided to withdraw cases registered in 2020 and 2021 for alleged violations of the two Covid-19-related lockdowns.

Speculations are rife that the BJP could be going in for a major organisational reshuffle in the desert state, Rajasthan. The party is also looking at the possibilities of balancing the caste equation through the changes. There are talks of replacing some Brahmin faces with leaders from the Jaat and Gujjar communities. The party could also be bringing in more youth and women in the state unit. However, while speaking to the local media, BJP Rajasthan unit chief CP Joshi denied any major organisational reshuffle.

While former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje is the frontrunner to be the party's face during the forthcoming state polls, the majority of the top leaders are in favour of going to the elections without a CM candidate. This has been proposed to avoid internal strife between the senior party leaders in Rajasthan.

In Chhattisgarh, the BJP finds itself in a tricky situation. During the last Assembly elections, the BJP suffered a wipeout at the hands of the Congress. Sources revealed that the BJP has so far "not been able to recover" from the rout. While the national vice-president and former state chief minister Raman Singh remains the only known face in the state, he has not yet been able to recover from the "debilitating loss in 2018," a senior party leader said.

It was learnt that the BJP has also failed to prop up any new line of "credible" leaders in Chhattisgarh. A section of leaders were trying to push the state general secretary and a former bureaucrat, O.P. Choudhary. However, some of the central leaders are not certain of his "capability to take on the Congress chief minister Bhupesh Bhagel". The BJP has also not been able to counter Mr Bhagel's powerful "Chhattisgarhiya pride" narrative.

Meanwhile, in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has decided to withdraw cases registered in 2020 and 2021 for alleged violations of the two Covid-19 related lockdowns. There were nearly 60,000 cases filed during the two Covid lockdowns. Most of the cases involved social events and attempts to keep shops open, the sources said.

The BJP has its work cut out, especially with the Congress deciding to ape the saffronites by planning to hold readings of the Ramayan, Bhagavad Gita and Shiv Puran in all the 52 districts and 230 Assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh.

With the Congress now seeming to be relying heavily on divine intervention with state unit chief Kamal Nath praying and preaching, the Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said, "The BJP has Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and precious party workers, something the Congress is deprived of."

Playing the soft Hindutva card, the Congress has not only begun distributing "Ganga Jal" among the Hindu families but also conducting "Shrimad Bhagwat saptah gyan yagya'' among other Hindu events. These events were reportedly being organised by the Congress’ recently formed religious cell. Taking a jibe at the Congress, the state chief minister quipped, "I have several arrows in my quiver. Congress cannot match it."