BJP lost the election in Karnataka and many of its leaders are naturally irritated. However, they express satisfaction when questioned publicly. They say the party’s vote share did not change. Not many are perturbed by the loss of party national general secretary, who is also in charge of several states. There is dissatisfaction at the root of so much satisfaction and everyone knows that.
Interested in chair, not in LoP
As tough as it is for the Congress to decide the CM in Karnataka, it is easier for the BJP to choose the Leader of the Opposition in the state. There is no competition in the party. Those who were seeing themselves in the CM race before the results, are now proposing the name of their close aids for LoP.
No honest feedback
BJP in-charge Arun Singh was receiving booth-level feedback, according to which the party was winning. When the opposite happened, the feedback stood revealed. There were 10 people giving the feedback from each seat. On average, only 1 or 2 people told the party was losing, while eight predicted wins. Why was the correct feedback not given? Answer came that big leaders are displeased when made aware of the shortcomings, so it is preferred to stay in the good book by speaking good.
Timing is key
RCP Singh joined BJP. The party lost the Karnataka elections the very next day. Although this is a coincidence. Voting was done before his arrival. But someone commented saying the process of taking him onboard happened during the election itself. Dharmendra Pradhan, who inducted him, was also the election in-charge.
Whom to ban next?
Congressmen are happy with Karnataka result. Why not? But those who proposed a ban on Bajrang Dal and got it included it in the manifesto are elated the most. They may have been scolded by the senior leadership then but now things are different. Now, those who scolded are in all praise for the former ones, saying Bajrang Bali sailed us through, now decide on whom to ban in the next election.
Honour vanar sena too
Some senior Congress leaders, who played a major role in the election but were not involved in the manifesto issue, are not liking the fact that the credit for the victory is only going to Bajrangbali. They say that the real battle was fought by the vanar sena (monkey army). Along with Bajrangbali, the monkey army should also be worshiped.
Tea talk
Big leaders of the Congress now mention tea with great pride. If asked for tea, they would say – have tea, made of Nandini milk. One made from Amul’s tea has gone bad.
Organisational failure
Meetings, food, stay and rest – in BJP, these are 4 essentials. Keep moving on all four — this is counted as a marker of the organisation’s efficiency. Recently there was a meeting of all the General Secretaries of BJP together. It means that the first essential task is completed. So when the organisation missed out on paying attention to the second essential function — food— all general secretaries had to eat in the canteen.
Bharat Agrawal is Executive Director, Dainik Bhaskar Group, and a columnist.
By special arrangement with Dainik Bhaskar, edited by Anurag Chaubey.