Too big to be cozy: the BJP’s expansion plans have problems and they are showing
The BJP is facing internal organizational challenges as it attempts to balance the integration of new recruits with the interests of long-term party members. Recent electoral losses in Bihar highlight growing discontent among the party's traditional support base.
Why it matters
Internal friction within the ruling party can influence national policy direction and electoral strategies in key states.
In a marathon four-hour meeting at Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s residence a few weeks ago, in the presence of senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president Nitin Nabin, RSS joint general secretary Arun Kumar among others, the Sangh Parivar mulled over its HR (human resources) issues.
The BJP, which has seen an unprecedented growth not just electorally but also organisationally, with recruits from other parties and its own growth, faced the fact that its organisational structure needed expanding to accommodate old timers and new entrants. The meeting drew up a blueprint to increase the number of organisational posts to satisfy all.
The result of the Bankipur bypoll in Bihar, where the BJP lost its fort in the heart of Patna, has also signalled the discontent of that expansion, this time in its support base.
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