Changes in the State BJP organisations may be in the offing in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, two major party-ruled States which would go to polls by December and where it may face tough challenge from the main rival Congress which is buoyed by its recent bypoll scores.
The BJP, which has faced reverses in bypolls held on February 1 in two Lok Sabha and one assembly seats in Rajasthan, has another bypoll test waiting in Madhya Pradesh where byelection would be held in Mungaoli and Kolaras assembly constituencies on February 24. (The counting of votes will take place on February 28.)
According to sources, "Changes in State organisations from District to State levels could be made after Madhya Pradesh by-poll results to revitalize party in the states." They indicated that organisational reshuffle at district levels will have a " important bearing" in the ticket selection for the coming assembly polls. A section of MLAs in Rajasthan is understood to have expressed reservation over the party's candidate selection in the bypoll.
Asked about anti-incumbency prevailing in the two States, they said this may be more in Rajasthan than in Madhya Pradesh and need to be effectively countered by the State Organizations.
As in Rajasthan by-polls where BJP lost Lok Sabha seats of Ajmer and Alwar and the Mandalgarh assembly seat with a huge margin to the rival Congress, the contest in Madhya Pradesh bypoll in Mungaoli and Kolaras is also expected to be tough and challenging as these two fall in Guna district , the stronghold of senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia. Both the seats are currently held by the Congress.
Winning the two seats would be a feather in the cap of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and a clear message to the Central leadership that he retains his charisma and is fighting fit for State assembly polls that are about 10 months away. A negative outcome , as in Rajasthan, would allow the detractors to raise questions on State leadership including the Chief Minister and State President's popularity, sources said. Currently, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has her loyalist Ashok Parnami as State President and Nand Kumar Singh Chauhan heading the party in MP.