Top leaders of the BJP Tamil Nadu have reportedly discussed the steps to be taken to restructure the party by removing non-performing executives from party responsibilities.
Tamil Nadu went to the polls on April 6 where the BJP contested in 20 seats and the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat as part of AIADMK alliance.
Being in power at the Centre and striking an alliance with the party that was in power at the State, the BJP set a target of winning seats in double digits. National level BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah, had come down to campaign vigorously in the constituencies where the BJP and its candidates were contesting.
However, the DMK won the elections with a simple majority and came to power after 10 years. The BJP could win only four seats – Modakurichi, Coimbatore South, Nagercoil and Tirunelveli. In light of this, a high-level committee meeting of the Tamil Nadu BJP was held at a private hotel in Injambakkam, Chennai to introspect the election results.
BJP National General Secretary C.T. Ravi, senior leader Sudhakar Reddy, Tamil Nadu BJP President Dr. L. Murugan former Union Minister Pon. Radhakrishnan, State Organization Secretary Kesava Vinayagam, BJP Tamil Nadu Vice President VP Duraisamy, General Secretaries Karunagarajan and K.T. Raghavan, senior leaders CP Radhakrishnan and H. Raja, participated. Also present were MLAs Nainar Nagendran, Vanathi Srinivasan, and some key executives of the RSS.
The meeting was supposed to happen on May 11 but could not be held as per scheduled due to the lockdown imposed by the Tamil Nadu government. Initiatlly, it was thought to be held through video conference but several leaders agreed that it would be better to meet in person and discuss. The meeting was organized at a private hotel instead of Kamalalayam to maintain confidentiality and ensure that what is discussed doesn’t get leaked.
Some of issues that were discussed were allegedly about the AIADMK not allocating the seats demanded by the BJP. and the fiasco in selecting candidates. It was also said that some of the AIADMK leaders did not work effectively in constituencies contested by the BJP. Despite raising the matter with the leadership of the AIADMK, there has not been a convincing response. It was discussed if the party should continue the alliance for the upcoming local body elections.
During the meeting, it was discussed that those with considerable influence among people and senior leaders who had come from other parties like the DMK and AIADMK would be given a Rajya Sabha ticket and even a Minister if possible. They will undertake a state-wide tour to participate in welfare work and strengthen the party at the booth level. The party has decided to remove non-performers and those responsible for the party’s poor performance in the elections and include more youngsters.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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