BJP gets in ‘Damage Control’ Mode

Party seniors put on work to conciliate rebel leaders  

PS BALI

Jammu, Nov 16: In an avid attempt to pacify its rebel leaders and workers, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) gets into ‘damage control’ mode by assigning senior leaders to conciliate the disgruntled MLAs and workers.

According to party insiders, several senior leaders are assigned with the task of persuading rebel workers and to convince them to support party ‘in making majority government of BJP in the state’.

“Various senior leaders are put on task, by the high command in New Delhi, to motivate the angry workers, who had either left the party or are mulling to do so,” said a BJP leader, wishing anonymity.

He added that the senior leaders viz, Jugal Kishore, Shamsher Singh Manhas and Ashok Khajuria are continuously holding   talks with disgruntled leaders to motivate them to rejoin party and strengthen its base.

“Following the instructions of BJP president, Amit Shah, the state unit has pumped senior leaders to motivate rebels. Some of the disgruntled leaders have already rejoined party and those who had planned to leave BJP have dropped the idea,” said BJP leader.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, MLA from Raipur Domana, Bharat Bushan said that he had left party, after he was denied ticket, but later on the intervention of senior leaders he had to drop the idea.

“I did announce to contest elections on the Panthers mandate, after I was denied ticket by the high command, but later senior leaders motivated me to strengthen party base and reposed faith in my working,” said Bushan adding among senior leaders, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Shamsher Singh Manhas and Ashok Khajuria, besides BJP incharge for J&K, Avinash Rai Khanna called on him and sought his support to make ‘mission 44+’ possible.

He added that the senior leaders also held talks with party workers and convinced them to work for strengthening of the party at ground level.

Meanwhile, another rebel MLA, Durga Dass rejoined the party after he was counseled by senior leaders. He told Greater Kashmir that he had not resigned from the party, neither he had any registration with Panthers party, it was just a phase. “I was swayed away by the emotions of party workers, who found denial of ticket a betrayal with their leader,” he said.

He added that some other senior leaders (without naming any) have also approached him to rejoin the party.

“Some leaders approached me personally and also telephonically to seek my support,” he said adding that party leaders asked him to join hands with new candidate to make his win inevitable.

However, two days back, in a press conference, BJP national spokesperson, Ram Madhav had said that ‘party don’t care’ about rebels and their absence will not harm party’s image.

Pertinently, BJP had dropped eight sitting MLAs after which six of them announced to contest as Independents or on the mandate of other parties.