The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is reportedly considering assigning crucial organisational responsibility to the incumbent Gujarat State president, CR Patil, with the aim of maximising the party's performance in key States, particularly Uttar Pradesh (UP), in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
As the BJP anticipates a closely-contested battle in several States, including West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, and Rajasthan, the party seeks to enhance its Lok Sabha seat count, with a particular focus on the electorally-significant State of UP.
Sources indicate that Patil, a three-time Navsari MP who played a pivotal role in micromanaging Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home constituency, Varanasi, may be appointed as the election in-charge for the State. Patil's impressive track record in Gujarat, where he is credited with securing a historic victory of 156 out of 182 Assembly seats and increasing the BJP's vote share from 49 per cent to 53 per cent last year, has earned him recognition.
Modi himself praised Patil and urged BJP leaders and MPs to adopt the "Patil model" for devising electoral strategies in other States. Speculation had also emerged following the Gujarat victory that Patil could be rewarded with a Cabinet position in the Modi Government.
In preparation for the 2024 general elections, the BJP has appointed national general secretary Sunil Bansal as the head of its month-long outreach campaign, 'Maha Jansampark Abhiyan,' in UP. The ongoing program aims to create awareness among voters about the benefits of the Prime Minister's flagship schemes for the underprivileged. Additionally, Union Minister Anurag Thakur is expected to assume additional organisational and electoral responsibilities in the State. Former State Ministers Shrikant Sharma and Sidharth Nath Singh may also be entrusted with important roles in UP, where the BJP has set an ambitious target of winning 75 Lok Sabha seats. In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured 62 seats from UP.
Furthermore, the BJP is contemplating organisational changes in other States, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Telangana, and Odisha, which are scheduled to hold Assembly elections this year and next. The party is also exploring the possibility of revamping its units in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, and Karnataka.
The recent electoral setback in Karnataka has prompted the BJP to consider significant changes in its State unit. Sources highlight the series of meetings held by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and General Secretary (Organization) B L Santosh with state BJP and RSS leaders in this regard.
In Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP faces a formidable electoral challenge from former Congress Chief Minister Kamal Nath, the party is planning a major organizational reshuffle under the leadership of incumbent Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Union Minister Pralhad Singh Patel is being considered for elevation as the BJP head in Madhya Pradesh, as he is perceived as an efficient leader who can boost the party's performance in the upcoming state elections. The current state BJP chief, V D Sharma, reportedly lacks a strong rapport with the Chief Minister.
Furthermore, Telangana BJP President Bandi Sanjay Kumar may be reassigned from the state to a national role as part of the party's strategic realignment.
Following extensive discussions, the central party leadership has assigned the responsibility of managing Lok Sabha constituencies across states to key leaders, including central ministers, chief ministers, and former chief ministers.