All is not well in state BJP

BHUBANESWAR: All is not well in the State BJP. Lack of coordination among the top leaders has been seriously affecting the party structure and cadres are a demoralised lot.Many senior leaders are not happy with the manner in which the State leadership is leading the party. While there are many corruption issues against the Naveen Patnaik Government, the BJP has failed to exploit the situation. Several members of the BJP core committee raised the issue at a recent meeting attended by national BJP secretary in-charge of Odisha, Santosh Gangwar.The Bhrastachar Hatao Abhijan (anti-corruption movement) by the party against the Naveen Patnaik Government failed to achieve desired results due to lack of planning and coordination among top leaders, said a party insider. The party launched a public movement against corruption in the BJD Government from the State capital. An impressive rally was organised which was addressed by national party president Nitin Gadkari. The party decided to organise such rallies in all the Assembly constituencies. But it was possible in only 103 Assembly segments before the onset of monsoon. The leadership then became complacent. With just six members in the Assembly, the BJP had successfully cornered the Government on many corruption issues including multi-crore mining scam, land scam, dal scam and linkage coal scam. But the party has failed to take up the issue outside the Assembly due to lack of synergy.Senior leaders of the party feel ignored as they are not consulted on important issues by the State functionaries. Though a core committee has been constituted to take all important decisions,  the committee headed by State BJP president Jual Oram hardly meets. All important decisions are reportedly being taken by a coterie led by State organising secretary Panchanan Rout.  Even as the Umerkote by-election is round the corner and party candidate Dharmu Gond has a fair chance, the core committee is yet to  prepare strategy, sources said.