MP CM Chouhan’s midnight meet with RSS raises eyebrows

BHOPAL: With an aim to change the party’s strategy in areas where BJP candidates might lose the electoral battle at a close finish, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met RSS leaders at the state headquarter ‘Samidha’ on Wednesday midnight to discuss last minute plan.

The Sangh Parivar during ticket distribution in the first week of November had suggested changes in more than 85 assembly constituencies on the basis of feedback report they had gathered against the aspirants. However, the BJP gave free hand to chief minister Chouhan and dropped names of only 54 candidates against 85 named suggested by the RSS. The party also effected minor changes in constituencies.

It was learnt that during one-and-a-half-hour meeting which began at around midnight, the chief minister discussed core issues related to party’s poll campaign in weaker constituencies with Deepak Vispute, RSS head of Madhya Kshetra (Central region) and left for his official residence after 1.30 am, said sources close to RSS.
The discussion mainly focused 60 selected seats where the party candidates were not performing well during the poll process. BJP has decided to intensify campaigning on these seats, disclosed the sources. It was also assumed that leaders must communicate with the farmers and government employees after a dull response over party’s election manifesto.

“The BJP is concerned after negative feedback on some assembly seats. During recent meetings, the ‘Sangh Parivar’ had suggested changes in some constituencies but to no avail. The RSS cadre was also not satisfied with the ticket distribution. However, the party has decided to intensify campaign in some weak areas,” said a senior RSS functionary.

He further disclosed that BJP’s poll manifesto also failed to attract farmers, women and government employees. It was stated that farmers were facing problems due to intermittent power cut and irregularities in urea supply which was not properly addressed.

Recently during his Bhopal visit, BJP president Amit Shah had also discussed party’s poll strategy after reports of negative feedback in some areas. The meeting which lasted for several hours was held till 1 am after which the state leadership roped in senior members in Chambal area to manage the poll campaign.

With only six days left for polling in the assembly elections, speculations are rife that BJP would change the campaigning to person to person in all sensitive areas. Party’s strategy to rope in star campaigners in Chambal, Bundelkhand, parts of Malwa and Nimar is also a part of intensified campaigning to counter Congress plan, said sources adding, the last lag of poll meetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah would also end in Malwa-Nimar.