Govind Badone, Biora, In the last 17 elections, outside candidates have contested polls for 14 times for BJP. Rajgarh parliamentary constituency is stronghold of outside candidates as far as BJP is concerned.
On the other hand the Congress has always given chance to local candidates. The BJP’s bid to give chance to local leadership was successful last time.
In view of the past record of BJP, speculations are rife whether BJP would give chance to local leadership or not. The BJP and its ancillary organizations have failed to develop local leadership in Rajgrah with the exception of last polls. In the 17 LS polls (including one by-poll), Congress has given chance to local leadership on 10 occasions while BJP fielded local leaders only on three occasions.
In the last three decades BJP has tried to win the seat by fielding TV artists or top party leaders. Except one occasion, BJP’s strategy failed all the time. On the other hand Congress assiduously developed local leadership and gave tough challenge to BJP.
The first Lok Sabha election was held in 1950. From 1950 till 1971 the voters have been giving their valuable vote to outside candidates. Neither Congress nor BJP gave chance to local candidate.
BJP gave chance to local leadership after 62 years
BJP has fielded local leaders only on three occasions in last 17 parliamentary polls. It succeeded only in last election. However its experiment with the local leader was successful last time. Significantly the BJP workers did not oppose it in 62 years. The party gave chance to local leader after 62 years.