Rajasthan by-poll: Five lessons to learn
The BJP has won only one of the four assembly seats in by-elections, results for which have been declared on September 16. All the four seats were vacated by the BJP MLAs who won as MPs. It includes a defeat in Vair in Bhatratpur from were Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had started her grassroots tour in February.
So. what went wrong?
#1.Wrong candidates
The BJP fielded 80-year old Ganga Ram Koli from Vair in Bharatpur division. He could barely walk. From Surajgarh, it fielded an outsider Digambar Singh who had lost in the assembly election making Anita Yadav, a prominent local leader, revolt. In Nasirabad, it fielded Sarita Gaina whom local MP Sanwar Lal Jat from Ajmer did not back.
#2.Disgruntled workers
The voting percentage went down. State BJP president Ashok Parnami is Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's nominee but workers have been feeling lett down, not having been rewarded despite working hard for elections to the assembly and Parliament.
#3.No jobs for the boys
The Chief Minister was advised to postpone appointments to her ministry ao as to keep prospective ministers engaged. There are only 11 ministers when she can have 30 and most boards and corporations are being headed by bureaucrats instead of party leaders. Those expecting such appointments--and most of them are deserving--have been feeling frustrated. Many wanted BJP to lose so that their message was communicated and their grievances broadcast to the world.
#4. No long term results on the horizon
Raje's long term plans are still in the pipeline. These will take off only after a year. To implement these, she took tough decisions as part of re-engineering populist schemes of the previous government but in the process, she is quickly acquiring an image of someone only working for the corporates and for the wealthy.
#5. No day-to-day governance
In her focus on long term solutions to the state's problems, Raje has ignored day-to-day governance. She has retained 46 departments as a result of which there is no buffer between her and those seeking state's intervention. Many small decisions are held up because there is no full-time minister.
Sachin Pilot, PCC president has worked hard for Congress. He knows well that he has to sit in opposition for next five years and has very few MLAs but still, he has succeeded in motivating Congress workers. A lesson BJP could have learnt.