Jaipur: The ruling BJP is mounting an intensive organisational effort for elections to 309 urban local bodies, with its state and central leadership closely involved in candidate selection and poll strategy.While Union home minister Amit Shah kicked off the campaign by urging voters during rallies in Chittorgarh and Alwar to “wipe out Congress” in local body elections, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has cleared his calendar to keep a close watch over Kota, a move political watchers say underlines just how high BJP has raised the stakes in Rajasthan’s urban local body polls.For a leader in a constitutional post to clear his schedule for a municipal battle signals not only intense micro-management from the very top, but also a measure of nervousness in the party camp, especially in Kota, where past reverses and new political variables have made the contest too risky to leave to routine organisation.“Birla is closely monitoring political developments and is expected to camp in Kota until Sept 11, when polling is scheduled to conclude,” party sources said.BJP’s heightened attention to Kota comes after its setback following the split of the city’s municipal corporation in 2019. “The party subsequently lost control of both civic bodies. This time, the party is not taking any chances. The presence of former BJP legislator Prahlad Gunjal, who joined Congress, has added to the concerns. Gunjal, who has a strong political base in Kota, could influence the contest and potentially dent BJP’s prospects,” a source said. While Birla is not expected to campaign, he is likely to oversee election preparedness in his parliamentary constituency.At the state level, CM Bhajan Lal Sharma has also been participating in BJP’s division-wise exercise to finalise candidates for all 309 urban local bodies, an exercise, expected to conclude on Aug 29.Sources said Sharma attended discussions at the party headquarters on Aug 17 on organisational preparations and grassroots-level strategy, and again took part in the candidate finalisation exercise Thursday, with plans to attend through all three days.BJP central leadership has also deployed a team of senior members from Delhi to oversee preparations for panchayat and local body elections, a move party functionaries said was a first. “The involvement of the central team shows that BJP is not looking at these as routine local elections. The party sees them as an important test of its organisational strength and political influence,” a senior BJP functionary said.Not surprisingly, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has also opted for a hands-on approach in Jodhpur, meeting party workers and local members and monitoring preparations as BJP seeks to consolidate its position in a region long identified with former CM Ashok Gehlot.Sources said BJP is positioning civic polls as an early measure of its grassroots strength and electoral momentum in Rajasthan. “With a cabinet expansion expected soon, MLAs and ministers are working hard in their respective constituencies to ensure victories in the local body elections. A poor performance in their constituencies could affect their prospects of retaining a berth in the Cabinet or being inducted into it,” sources said.
