The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is banking on its grassroots workers’ outreach to assuage concerns that an upset cadre could adversely impact the party’s electoral fortunes in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, where it is seeking to return to power for a third time.
It began a campaign last month to mend ties with the workers, voicing disillusionment over being overlooked by the leadership and complaining that their demands and concerns were not met. State president Pankaj Chaudhary, Vinod Tawde, the BJP Uttar Pradesh in-charge, and other state functionaries are carrying out the outreach on the ground. “Nevertheless, we assure them that they are heard and that the party is there for them.
A party leader said BJP chief Nitin Nabin initiated the outreach. A second party leader said the organisation has a robust feedback mechanism. “Our workers on the ground lay the foundation for the party’s expansion and the election campaigns. …there will be some grouses or complaints, but it is important that these are not allowed to fester” The leader said some of the issues raised at the meetings are largely about perception. The leader cited their meetings and said the complaints were mostly about being overlooked for positions in the party or corporations, or that their requests for school admissions or treatment at government hospitals took too long or were not honoured. The second leader said the BJP is the world’s largest party. “Just as it happens in large families, sometimes people are disappointed or even fall out, but at the end of the day we stick together…”
