India: How RSS Turned the Wind in Favour of BJP Four Months After Losing MP Assembly Polls | Kashif Kakvi

The Wire
25/May/2019

How RSS Turned the Wind in Favour of BJP Four Months After Losing MP Assembly Polls

The RSS leadership drew up a strategy that was independent of BJP’s campaign – it made a list of seats where BJP seemed on a weak footing and concentrated all energies there.

by Kashif Kakvi

Bhopal: When V.D. Sharma, a little-known BJP leader in Bundelkhand, made a belated entry in the electoral fray, party leaders of the region were surprised. His candidature was opposed widely in Khajuraho, effigies were burnt, and BJP leaders and workers shouted “V.D. Sharma vapas jao”.

In neighbouring Tikamgarh, Virendra Khatik’s candidature was also opposed by local leaders, including all MLAs. Former MLA R.D. Prajapati even resigned and contested as a Samajwadi Party candidate.

In tribal dominated Balaghat, the BJP replaced the sitting MP Bhodh Singh Bhagat with little known Dhal Singh Bisen. Annoyed with the denial, Bhagat contested as an independent candidate.

In Bhopal, though no one openly opposed Pragya Thakur’s candidature, local BJP leaders campaigned rather halfheartedly. The absence of many the BJP leaders from her campaign trail was conspicuous. [ . . . ] https://thewire.in/politics/rss-bjp-madhya-pradesh-win