Farmers Movement Archive

BJP’s 19 grassroots wings, 23 cells for mass contact drive

Lucknow: Stirring the political pot ahead of the high-stakes elections early next year, BJP has decided to mobilize 19 organisational departments and 23 cells to expedite the party’s mass contact drive. The two lateral wings of the party have been asked to organise conventions to mobilise people from various professions. The move comes close on heels of the party’s decision to organise statewide “prabuddha varg sammelans”, in an apparent bid to counter opposition’s bid to win over upper castes, ostensibly Brahmins who account for 13% of the voting population and have traditionally sided with the saffron outfit. Party sources said, the organisational cells and departments will work in close association with seven frontal organisations (morchas) which have completed their organisational set-up down to the district level and are now ready to hold their working committee to set the poll agenda to woo various communities including SC, ST, OBC, farmers, women, youth and the minorities. To begin with, BJP is scheduled to organise the working committee meeting of the women’s wing on September 6. This will be followed by the working committee of the farmer frontal wing proposed in Chitrakoot on September 11. The much-awaited working committee is expected to be attended by top BJP leaders, including party national vice-president and UP in charge Radha Mohan Singh, CM Yogi Adityanath, UP BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh and general secretary (organisation), Sunil Bansal. The farmers’ meet holds much significance against the backdrop of farmers’ stir against the BJP over the new farm laws, especially in the restive west UP region. The farmers’ organisations led by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, has called a ‘mahapanchayat’ in Muzaffarnagar on September 5, in what has already alerted the ruling BJP. Experts said, the ruling party seeks to assuage the fractious farming community through various agriculture-oriented measures. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had recently announced getting the state advisory price (SAP) for sugarcane raised, ahead of the forthcoming crushing season. UP BJP spokesperson, Hero Bajpai said, the party has completed constitution of the organisational structure of all its wings. “Activation of functionaries of different organisational morchas, departments and cells will help the party reach out to various sections of societies and professional groups to get them associated with the ideology and policies of the party,” he said.

The Times of India

2021-09-04

Lucknow