The setting in of the ominous Pitr Paksha has put the brakes on the reconstitution of the Delhi BJP unit. The overhaul plan of its office bearers, announced by Satish Upadhyay when he was appointed the Delhi BJP chief, can now be expected only after September 23 — once Pitr Paksha is over.
Pitr Paksha, which is considered by Hindus as a period for paying homage to souls of their forefathers, is believed by many as inauspicious for beginning new important work or even buying. Going by the belief, leaders in the Delhi BJP are refraining from making any major announcement during this period.
A rejig of the Delhi BJP has been long overdue as the existing team has remained the same since its former State unit president Vijay Goel’s time. Goel had constituted the team in February 2013 when he was elected as the then Delhi BJP chief. Again in February this year, ahead of the lok Sabha Polls, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan was then appointed the party president, but the team of office bearers still remained unchanged.While he took over the charge from Vardhan as the new president on July 8, Upadhyay had announced that a new team will be constituted comprising several new faces. “The Delhi BJP will undergo an overhaul. Party’s office bearers from block level to the top hierarchy will be replaced,” Upadhyay had told. Sources said the major changes would include nine vice presidents, unlike the existing eight VPs the state unit has.
Besides, new faces could also be seen for the posts of four general secretaries and eight secretaries. In addition to this, the presidents at the district and block levels too would be changed in the reshuffle.
In a scenario where Delhi only seems to be inching
closer to a possible re-election, the formation of a new team for the Delhi BJP is expected to give a major boost to the party’s presence in the Capital, which is already on a high after its success in the lok Sabha elections. A new team may also help in an image makeover for the party at a time when it is facing major embarrassment with its leaders being accused of bribing others for a possible Government formation in the city.
According to sources, the new team may, however, not have incumbent office bearers who were considered important in Vijay Goel’s team. These include general secretary Jai Prakash and vice president Shikha Rai, among others. However, some of the faces like those of vice presidents Ashish Sood, Yogender Chandolia and presidents of some morchas may be repeated in the much-awaited change. This, sources said, primarily aims at bringing together various factions within the party.
Upadhayay may appoint some Delhi BJP leaders on important positions who were not given prominence during Goel’s tenure, sources added. With him also being the Chairman of Standing Committee in South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), Upadhyay may also give a fair opportunity to leaders from the three municipal corporations. Upadhyay, however, said the team formation would be solely on merit and there will be no ‘favouritism’.