- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is proud to proclaim as a party with a difference. The claim can be disputed on several fronts but one aspect that cannot be questioned is the penchant of the party throwing surprises in choosing leaders to head the government after winning an election. The BJP’s election campaign machinery is on the button right through the year irrespective of the polls being classified as small, big, relevant, or not-so-relevant is well documented and acknowledged. The BJP never takes the foot off the pedal vis-à-vis relentlessly pushing ahead with the forward march on the electoral front is an amazing facet in itself. I am sure other parties would be dying to replicate the intensity shown by the BJP. It’s a praiseworthy emulation indeed.
PC: Mint
- Now, people inclined towards political churning in the Indian context would have also noticed how the BJP often throws surprises without traversing the beaten path. Come to think of it how the BJP’s top leadership bestows trust and responsibilities on newbies and novices in the political firmament by throwing them into the deep sea of heading the government. Unlike other political parties where the long-serving and established leaders are often not considered for the top posts like chief minister. Several instances over the last few years substantiate this aspect. Look not far from what transpired in Rajasthan when Bhajan Lal Sharma was appointed to helm the affairs. Likewise, Orissa witnessed Mohan Charan Manjhi taking over the baton of governance.
PC: Aaj Tak
- Note that both these leaders were relatively obscure and little was known about them before the BJP’s top leadership bestowed upon them much-coveted responsibilities. Similarly, Chhattisgarh saw Vishnu Deo Sai taking over the chief ministership by passing several other worthy contenders for the top post. Of course, the Madhya Pradesh state assembly welcomed Mohan Yadav as the CM again leapfrogging over several senior contenders to don the position. This penchant for selecting a relatively new greenhorn into the hurly-burly of running the state government is a new phenomenon witnessed in the Indian political scenario. So far this is showing signs of working in favour of the saffron party apart from keeping the more established leaders in check.
PC: HerZindagi
The latest to join the not-so-popular leaders to the top executive position in the state government is none other than Rekha Gupta, the newly sworn chief minister of Delhi. Yes, the woman CM has a hallowed ring about it, and hence, the selection and subsequent election of Rekha Gupta was wholeheartedly welcomed by one and all. It also further establishes the stronghold of the Modi-Shah duo in running the party without questions/murmurs raised from different quarters. Unlike other parties where dissidence is rampant, the BJP hardly encounters challenges to the top leadership which is dealt with adroitly. So long as the political dividends are forthcoming, the BJP will not mind one bit in challenging the established norms of appointing proven leaders as CMs
