BJP is becoming A Party of Turncoat. Over 106 Candidates Contesting on BJP Tickets are Turncoats, Reflecting a New Image of the Party....
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), traditionally known for its disciplined and dedicated cadre, is currently facing an internal crisis.
The party's long-time workers, known for their loyalty and adherence to the party's ideology, are growing increasingly discontented as an influx of candidates from other political parties is given precedence in ticket distribution.
In the lead-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP has set an ambitious target of winning 370 seats.
However, this goal has led the party to rely heavily on turncoats from other parties, raising concerns among its core members.
According to a report from a prestigious newspaper, out of BJP's 435 candidates, 106 are individuals who have joined the party within the last ten years. Remarkably, 90 of these candidates have made the switch in just the past five years.
This trend is not limited to a few regions but spans across various states. In Andhra Pradesh, BJP is contesting only 6 out of the 25 Lok Sabha seats due to an alliance with Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan.
Yet, five of these candidates are turncoats. Similarly, in Telangana, 11 out of the 17 seats are being contested by former members of other parties. Punjab presents an even more striking scenario: of the 13 seats BJP is contesting alone, 7 candidates are turncoats.
Notably, the current Punjab BJP president, who was previously the president of Punjab Congress, switched allegiance just two years ago.
Haryana is another state with a significant number of turncoats, with six candidates having non-BJP origins. In Himachal Pradesh, the situation is more pronounced with all six by-election candidates being former Congress rebels.
Furthermore, Harsh Mahajan, a former Congress member, has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by BJP. He won the seat by defeating Abhishek Manu Singhvi of the Congress in Feb 2024.
The party's strategy to incorporate these new members, many of whom are handed leadership roles immediately, has led to growing dissatisfaction among the original BJP workers. These loyalists, who have dedicated years to the party, now find themselves overshadowed and sidelined by newcomers who are seen as opportunists rather than committed party members.
While this influx of turncoats may provide short-term electoral advantages, it poses a risk to the party's long-term identity and internal cohesion.
The increasing number of external leaders who treat BJP workers as mere foot soldiers could demoralize the dedicated cadre, potentially leading to an irreversible impact on the party’s ethos and functionality.
As the party waits for the election results due on June 4, the internal discord poses a significant challenge. The reliance on turncoats might jeopardize the party’s foundational principles and alienate its core supporters, ultimately threatening its stability and long-term success.
(Mohinder Nath Sofat is a Social media Commentator and a BJP Veteran, views expressed in this article are his own)
