New Delhi: There was no anger within the party against Trivendra Singh Rawat, but in an election year the “expectations” are high and that’s the reason it was felt someone else should be given the responsibility, said BJP general secretary and national observer Dushyant Gautam.
Rawat resigned as the chief minister of Uttarakhand Tuesday.
Gautam, who was sent to Uttarakhand last week to speak to all MLAs and ministers and assess the situation, said Rawat’s resignation should not be viewed as a statement on his work as the CM.
Downplaying reports that a number of BJP MLAs had termed his leadership “uninspiring”, and that many of them had also raised concerns over his style of functioning, Dushyant told ThePrint: “He (Rawat) did commendable work during the coronavirus lockdown. He ensured all the welfare schemes were introduced in the state in an efficient manner. In an election year, the expectations as well as aspirations are quite high. That’s why the party felt someone else should be given the responsibility. It has nothing to do with his inability or MLAs are angry with him.”
Gautam also said Rawat will be given a role at the national level as he has experience of running a government as well as working at the organisational level.
“Our party has been forming government in several states and has been trying to increase its foothold so we need able leaders who have national experience. Right from Jammu and Kashmir to other states, we will need able leaders to take the party forward. Trivendra Singh Rawat has served as organising secretary in the past and it was felt that the party can utilise his experience at the national level,” he added.
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‘Uninspiring’ leadership
According to party sources, Rawat was summoned by the central leadership to Delhi after two central observers — Dushyant Gautam and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh — visited Dehradun Saturday to take feedback from all stakeholders. They met the MLAs and ministers, and held a meeting with RSS leaders in Uttarakhand, before submitting a report to party chief J.P. Nadda Monday.
Even as Gautam tried to downplay Rawat’s removal, the sources said both Gautam and Singh in their feedback to the central leadership had pointed out the MLAs’ resentment over Rawat’s style of functioning and his alleged lack of control over the administration. Some of the MLAs had also said his “uninspiring” leadership had the potential to damage the party’s prospects in the 2022 assembly elections, the sources said.
According to the sources, over 20 MLAs, including some who had joined the BJP from the Congress, had expressed concern over Rawat’s functioning.
The BJP had won the 2017 assembly elections in Uttarakhand with a huge majority, getting 57 of the total 70 seats.
Edited by Sanghamitra Mazumdar
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