New Delhi, Aug 14: The BJP central leadership believes that the change of leadership in the party’s Chhattisgarh unit will end the infighting and factionalism ahead of next year’s assembly polls. Last week, the BJP appointed Lok Sabha Member Arun Sao as the new president of its Chhattisgarh unit. He will replace Vishnu Deo Sai.
The BJP central leadership believes that while Sao’s appointment will help in ending infighting and factionalism within the party it will also help in getting OBC communities which constitute over 40 percent of the state population. Newly appointed Chhattisgarh BJP president Sao is not considered close or part of any camp in the state.
The BJP ruled Chhattisgarh for 15 years from 2003 to 2018. Chhattisgarh assembly polls will be held in November-December 2023. Defeat in recent Khairagarh by-polls held in April had raised the concern for the BJP for next year’s assembly polls as the assembly constituency falls under the home district of former chief minister Raman Singh. Singh, who is currently BJP national vice-president, was chief minister for 15 years. BJP politics in Chhattisgarh revolved around Singh for almost two decades and he still holds influence in the state unit.
A senior functionary said that the Khairagarh assembly by-poll result had sent a strong message to its Chhattisgarh unit that the BJP house is not in order and it needs to be placed in order before next year’s assembly polls. “After considering every possibility, the BJP central leadership has decided to change the state president. If things are not improved, then more changes will take place in coming months,” he said.
