BHOPAL: The leadership of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP has begun damage-control exercise after fielding Sadhvi Pragya Thakur as party candidate from Bhopal. RSS leaders, after the announcement of Pragya’s name, convened several meetings with local leaders and assigned them responsibility to ensure her win. RSS leader Deepak Vispute and others told local BJP leaders that they have to sink their differences to ensure Pragya’s victory.
They said it was very important to defeat Digvijaya Singh and that people must be made to understand that these elections are based on nationalism. Earlier, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan introduced Pragya to all leaders of the city at BJP office. Chouhan told these leaders that Bhopal seat is BJP’s traditional seat. He said that the party has decided to launch Pragya in election fray and all people should brace themselves with dedication for her victory.
RSS played a key role in finalizing of Pragya’s name. RSS leaders fear of sabotage with Pragya and they have asked all its volunteers to work in favour of BJP candidate. Alok Sanjar, who was sitting MP from Bhopal, has been denied ticket this time. Mayor Alok Sharma, former minister Babulal Gaur and Umashankar Gupta were also contenders. Chouhan’s name too was doing the rounds. RSS suspects that local leaders may not work with dedication in the elections this time.
Convenes meetings, asks local leaders to ensure her win
Sanjar’s low profile proves dear
Sitting MP from Bhopal Alok Sanjar has been denied ticket this time. From the very beginning there were doubts of his candidature in the elections. His low-profile came in the way of getting ticket. Congress nominating former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh came as a jolt on Sanjar’s prospects of getting ticket. Stating that he unexpectedly got ticket in 2014, the sitting MP said that he had fulfilled all the responsibilities given to him by the party. Sanjar said he would work for the victory of Pragya with full devotion.
