Defeat of senior leaders, lethargy within the party, other factors stir leadership
KHANNA IN GOA
ON A MISSION
* Avinash Rai Khanna arrived in Goa immediately after his appointment as Goa BJP in-charge by BJP national president Amit Shah
* In the first session on Wednesday, Khanna convened a meeting with all office bearers and reviewed the party's overall organizational structure
* In the afternoon, Khanna visited the party's North Goa District office in Mapusa, where he discussed with the District President and others
* Khanna will be touring the entire State to interact with party leaders and workers, before deciding on party reorganisation
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PANAJI: The BJP has prided itself in a disciplined hierarchy and party cadre, but the realities of coalition politics, defeat of senior party leaders and general lethargy within the party have stirred the party leadership and serious efforts are being made to rejuvenate the BJP in the State.
After remaining in power for the past six years in the State, the need to reorganise, restructure and revive the entire organization has been strongly felt since the BJP has encountered weakness at the organizational level.
Such has been the urgency to give a boost to the party in the State, that many expressed surprise over the arrival of Avinash Rai Khanna in Goa, immediately on his appointment as Goa BJP in-charge by BJP national president Amit Shah.
Avinash Rai Khanna, who is BJP's national vice president and also in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan, lost no time in arriving in the State and will tour the entire State to interact with party leaders and workers, before deciding on the reorganisation of the party.
Khanna, who is vastly experienced at the organizational level, was welcomed by the State BJP on Wednesday.
According to party sources, the state BJP has become lethargic and since Amit Shah is determined to boost the party organization in the state in the backdrop of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, Khanna began his work immediately.
State BJP Vice-President Dattaprasad Kholkar, Anil Hoble, General Secretary Sadanand Shet Tanavade, Damodar Naik, former minister Rajendra Arlekar, Mahadev Naik and other party functionaries were present to welcome Khanna.
In the first session, Khanna convened a meeting with all office bearers and reviewed the party's overall organizational structure and affairs of the State.
In the afternoon, Khanna visited the party's North Goa District office in Mapusa, where he had discussion with District President Dr Sukaji Naik and other office bearers.
“Khanna will communicate with BJP office bearers and party workers at Taleigao and will prepare an action plan for the party after listening to their views,” a senior office-bearer told The Goan.
As part of the party's revival measures, Khanna will involve senior party leaders who were defeated in the 2017 assembly elections and those leaders who had left the party, to become active within the organization to energise booth level workers for party work.
Vijay Puranik, who was recently appointed as the organising secretary, will also arrive in Goa shortly. Khanna and Puranik will review the party's organizational work after touring the entire State and interacting with party leaders, office bearers and party workers.
The party's central leadership has been determined to rejuvenate the party following reports that the party's hierarchy and cadre had become complacent, following the success of the BJP government's entire tenure in power in 2012 and one one year of rule following the 2017 assembly elections.
What has also caused concern among the party's central leadership is the feedback that party workers are disappointed with the state party leaders.
Some prominent party workers have been expressed fears that alliance partners, the MGP, Goa Forward and independent MLAs, have been expanding their organization across the State, posing a serious threat to the BJP party.
According to sources, Khanna and Puranik will be in the State to address these concerns among party workers
Vinay Tendulkar, who was elected as Rajya Sabha MP, will continue as BJP State president till 2019.
Many senior party leaders and office bearers have been emphasising the need to revive the State BJP well ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.
