RAIPUR
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chhattisgarh is expected to announce a major organisational reshuffle on August 10, after a long delay. The new appointments are likely to see a reduction in the number of some key posts.
Sources say the party may reduce the number of state general secretaries from four to three. New appointments will also be made for the posts of state general secretaries, Mahila Morcha president, BJYM president, Morcha presidents, and heads of various cells. Several leaders are said to be lobbying with state and national leaders, as well as the RSS, for these positions.
New general secretaries likely to be appointed
With the current state general secretaries, Sanjay Srivastava and Jagdish Ramu Rohra, becoming the non-executive chairman and mayor of Dhamtari Municipal Corporation, respectively, two posts are now vacant.
Former MP Abhishek Singh, former MLA Naveen Markandey, former MLA Rajneesh Singh, and Akhilesh Soni are in the race for these positions. Meanwhile, Gulshan Rishi and Amarjeet Dua could be made special invitees to the state executive committee.
The party has already held discussions on the new appointments. National Joint General Secretary (Organisation) Shiv Prakash visited Chhattisgarh recently and discussed the matter with senior leaders. State president Kiran Singh Deo also met with National General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santosh in Delhi to receive directives.
6 state vice presidents to be named
Six new state vice presidents will be appointed, with two women and four men. Some changes are expected among the current vice presidents. A new media convenor is also likely to be appointed, with Hemant Panigrahi and Anurag Agarwal leading the race for the post.
Team of spokespersons to be changed
The state unit of the BJP will also form a new team of spokespersons. The party will reduce the number of spokespersons and appoint those who can articulate the party’s stand clearly and effectively. The current team has 10 spokespersons.
New heads for 7 frontal organisations, 30 cells
The terms of the current heads of the BJP’s seven frontal organisations (morchas) and 30 cells (prakosths) have ended. New appointments are pending at the district and mandal levels. Workers have been waiting for these changes.
New Mahila Morcha president likely
The post of state president of the BJP Mahila Morcha is also a topic of discussion. The current president, Shalini Rajput, has been appointed as the chairperson of the Handicrafts Development Board by the government. This has opened the door for a new, influential woman leader to take charge of the post.
BJYM president to be replaced
BJYM president Ravi Bhagat’s removal is considered certain, reportedly due to his controversial statements. The discussion for the new BJYM president is focused on caste equations, with a young and dynamic leader from the OBC or General community likely to get the responsibility.
