The BJP’s Bihar unit chief C.P. Thakur on Monday offered to resign over the party’s internal survey, showing that the BJP was rapidly losing ground in the poll-bound state.
Sources disclosed Dr Thakur offered his resignation during a meeting of the party top brass and senior state unit leaders. However, party chief Nitin Gadkari refused to accept his resignation and asked him to continue.
This newspaper had carried a report on Monday that an internal survey conducted by the BJP has shown it winning not more than 30-33 seats. At present, the party has 54 members in the state assembly. Assembly polls in the state are scheduled in October-November this year.
After the findings of this survey, the BJP convened this meeting at Mr Gadkari’s residence to take stock of the situation.
Apart from Mr Gadkari and Dr Thakur, the party’s general secretary, organisation, Ramlal and state unit’s co-in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan were also present during the meeting.
The party’s top brass asked its state leaders to mobilise party cadre as well as all its leaders in the state. The BJP, which was hopeful of winning around at least 62-65 seats this time, was in for a shock when survey’s result came.
The survey had also shown that the BJP’s alliance partner JD(U) has overshadowed it in the state. Both the JD(U) and BJP are running the government in the state. The JD(U) has 81 members in the state Assembly.
One of the main reasons listed in the survey for party losing its ground in the state is the recent spat between Bihar chief minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. Party cadre in the state feel demoralised after the incident and also are of the view that the BJP is less visible in the state than JD(U).