Confident of winning 2019 general elections, Prime Minister Modi and BJP President Amit Shah are going to employ their tried and tested success formula. Replacing non-performing MLAs/ministers was one of the reasons why Modi-Shah duo managed to win defeat anti-incumbency factor in Gujarat. Modi-Shah shows zero tolerance towards non-performance and unaccountability. Both the RSS and the BJP are likely to work towards using this tactic at the national level.
Top leaders of the RSS and the BJP are attending a meeting at Surajkund, Haryana from 14 to 18 June. RSS Sangthan Mantris have been tasked to submit a report on the working of all the BJP Lok Sabha MPs. MP Tickets for the 2019 elections would be distributed on the basis of the submitted report. So it means tickets are going to be given on the basis of performance which is a good way to make MPs more accountable to their constituents. In order to ensure hardworking and responsible MPs get the ticket again, here the job of Sangathan Mantris becomes very crucial. The Sangathan Mantris have been charged with the responsibility to analyze the working of the BJP MPs in their respective constituencies and whether people are supporting them or not, steps taken by them to build the BJP cadre in the region, and what are the possibilities of their winning the election again. Based on these parameters tickets would be distributed. The Sangathan Mantris have to submit the report within 30 days.
Few BJP leaders, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the news. As reported by Economic Times, a BJP leader said, “How many current BJP MPs will be fielded again will largely depend on this survey. If you have delivered as an MP in your constituency, then you don’t have to worry. However, if public perception is not in your favour, then however high profile you might be, you are likely to be dropped.”
According to the anonymous BJP minister, if it is found that a particular incumbent MP may not be able to win his/her Lok Sabha constituency again then s/he will be asked to suggest the name of a better candidate who could win the election for the party. Role of pracharaks and the road map of 2019 were also discussed in the meeting. PM Modi also hosted dinner for the pracharaks and briefed them about the minutes’ of the meetings. A senior RSS leader said, “RSS doesn’t get into party affairs, but this meeting was about strengthening the organization.”
Special emphasis has been laid on the Uttar Pradesh. In order to counter the SP-BSP coalition, the Sangh has been divided into six prants in the state and has been asked to boost its activity and increase the chances of the party to win the elections. Another important task allotted to it is to increase the winnability where the party lost by miniscule margin of votes. A leader who attended the meeting, said, “The message to us from both the PM and party president is that each of us has to work with others to face the challenge in the interests of the country.” He further added that, “The Sarsanghchalak will also meet the PM and BJP chief for the final touches.”
Several other major decisions were also taken in the meeting, in order to get more number of Lok Sabha seats BJP and RSS are going to work in tandem.