Opinion divided in BJP over action on dissenters

Grappling with the after-effects of the Bihar poll rout, BJP functionaries have indicated that no disciplinary action against party elders, who have demanded accountability for the defeat, is in the offing. “We also made spectacular inroads in the neighbouring state of Kerala where we used to be very weak”, he said.

Another veteran leader who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Our leaders think they are leading a one-many army”.

Though the statement did not mention names, PM Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah were the obvious points of reference. “It shows that those who would have appropriated credit if the party had won are bent on shrugging off responsibility for the disastrous showing in Bihar”.

But most believe that this missive may spur the leadership and the party to undergo a course correction: less bombast and hubris while campaigning for votes, listening to and promoting more local leaders, and returning to good old fashioned realpolitik of political give and take. The parliamentary board has already made a decision to take up with all those concerned… and discuss the shortcomings that led to the defeat in Bihar.

Critics say Mr Modi and Mr Shah, both from Gujarat, have completely taken over the BJP, and are running what used to be a loose, collective and largely democratic party as their private fief. “That has been the practice”, Naidu said.

“When the BJP fought the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and was trying hard to improve its performance from 2009, Narendra Modi proved to be the man for the occasion, for the party and for the nation”. The BJP lost the 2004 parliamentary elections when I was the president, Atalji was the leader.

The Nomura analysts, however, said that they did not expect the defeat to dramatically change the pace of reform over the coming year. First, we lost nine of the 12 byelections to Assembly seats that we held and now we have faced defeat in the panchayat polls.

Also, many more crucial elections are lined up in the next two years – including in Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. “Winning and dropping occurs, we by no means held any particular person or for that matter group of people answerable for these defeats”.

“We are all proud of our Prime Minister, the country is moving forward”. At the same time, the BJP would refrain from taking a combative tone towards the party elders and would avoid ruffling feathers further, sources said. I was the president, Atalji was the leader. However, the clear advantage with Shah is that he is close to Modi, who in turn is indispensable for the party at the moment.

Modi turned the Bihar poll into a key test of his popularity, addressing a few 30 campaign rallies and promising voters billions of dollars for development in a state where two thirds lack access to electricity.