New Delhi: Days after a row over a Madhya Pradesh BJP leader’s large convoy of vehicles, the state party unit has issued a set of directions to its leaders, including a ban on such convoys and ostentatious displays, curbs on self-promotion, and restrictions on putting up personal hoardings and posters.
These guidelines come amidst Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to people to save fuel and contribute to shielding the country from the effects of the war in West Asia.
Madhya Pradesh BJP spokesperson Hitesh Bajpai confirmed to ThePrint that these guidelines have been issued, adding that recently appointed leaders to various corporations, boards, and commissions have also been told to keep their relatives and friends away from government business.
According to a senior BJP leader, the party has called for strict measures against any form of nepotism in the appointments of personal assistants and staff members too. Instructions have also been issued to ensure that individuals with controversial reputations are not included in their staff.
“In today’s perspective, the people of the country and the prime minister are having lots of expectations from the workers of the BJP also. A lot of people see them as their role models. So the public behaviour of these leaders is very important while they are conducting their official jobs,” Bajpai told ThePrint.
“They need to be modest, and to have remarkable austerity whenever their public experience is there. The party also expects the highest possible modesty and austerity from them especially when the country is facing economic challenges,” Bajpai added.
On 14 May, the BJP removed party leader Sajjan Singh Yadav in Madhya Pradesh who organised a rally with a convoy of hundreds of vehicles to mark his appointment as the district president of the party’s farmer wing.
Yadav, the Bhind president of the Madhya Pradesh Kisan Morcha, was removed from his post soon after his appointment over ‘disregard’ to the PM’s appeal for energy conservation and to ‘send message to others’.
According to sources, these informal guidelines have been issued at the behest of the state party president Hemant Khandelwal in a bid to bring greater clarity in administration.
“The state president has conveyed to all the recently appointed chairpersons of various corporations, boards and commissions that it would be in their best interest to maintain decorum and propriety. The way the party has initiated action against leaders in the recent past (after pictures of their convoys went viral) he has clearly stated that any excessive defiance or attempts at ostentation could result in the loss of their official positions,” said a senior BJP leader.
“The Madhya Pradesh BJP chief and the CM along with the state incharge of the BJP pointed these out when they addressed all the new leaders of Nigam Mandals, commissions among others,” Bajpai added.
Following the controversy surrounding vehicular convoys in the state, a training session was held in Bhopal for the chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, and members appointed to various corporations, boards, and commissions.
In addition, sources said a complete ban has been enforced on erecting hoardings and posters too.
The party has also directed them that individuals with controversial backgrounds will not be given positions within the staff”.
“The idea is to ensure that leaders avoid any actions or activities that could cast aspersions on the party’s credibility or challenge the directives issued by the high command. The effort should be to work hard and to publicise the government’s work among the public,” said another leader.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
