Party performed well in civic polls despite being in opposition: Rajasthan BJP chief

By Shashi Bhushan New Delhi, Feb 10 : Downplaying the outburst of a group of BJP leaders, considered loyalists of former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje, Rajasthan BJP chief Satish Poonia told IANS that the party’s performance has improved in local bodies polls despite being in the opposition ranks.
In a joint statement yesterday, Chhabra MLA Pratap Singh Singhvi and others said that the state organisation, on the behest of a individual has worked for decimating the BJP in its stronghold in recent civic polls and if the situation remains the same, then no force can save the party’s boat from sinking.
Singhvi is considered close to Raje.
Poonia stated that it was a political statement made by followers of a leader with no ground level support. “It is an emotional outburst of followers of a leader. There is nothing which shows the party has been weakened after the civic polls result,” he said.
Poonia said that people generally vote for the party in power in the state during local body polls and despite that the Congress is able to win only 50 seats more than BJP. “Congress won 1,190 civic wards, while BJP won 1,146. This shows that BJP has performed well but due to their management and support from independent Congress may come in power in several local bodies,” he said.
He stated that Congress won only 19 local bodies out of 90 and the rest are managed with the help of independents.