BJP national president Nitin Nabin has put the Karnataka unit of the party into an introspective mode through his stern message that it needs to pull up its socks if it hopes to return to power in the State.

As Mr. Nabin returned to Delhi on Monday (May 25)after his maiden visit to Karnataka, party leaders feel that he reflected the feelings of the cadre by indicating that the organisation had to go a long way to prove itself a better political alternative.

Mr. Nabin, who had collected information on the party unit through national joint general secretary (organisation) Shiv Prakash who had held one-to-one interactions with a large number of party leaders ahead of his visit, told the party in no uncertain words that it needs to pick-up momentum to be ready for 2028 Assembly polls.

Sending an unity message to the party State unit which is gripped by groupism for over a decade, he asked the leaders to protect the interests of the organisation rather than individuals.

Importance of SIR

Mr. Nabin sought to highlight the importance of the proposed SIR and made it clear that the party cadre had the responsibility of actively participating in the process to ensure that its support base did not face the axe.

Contrary to the feeling in the principal opposition party that it will be the “natural beneficiary” of a series of “failures” of the Congress government, Mr. Nabin told the party leaders that this alone will not help take the BJP to victory. He sought to send a message that they could capitalise on the failure of the government only if they project themselves as an effective alternative through constant pro-people struggles.

Prepare action plan

Indicating that the party State unit is not very active on the ground, the BJP national president asked the party to prepare an action plan against the failures of the government. It may be noted that several leaders within the party have been lamenting that the party has not been able to take its fight on several alleged scams and irregularities in the Congress government to a logical end. Mr. Nabin reportedly indicated that the party organisation suffered from lack of co-ordination.

Several leaders of the party are of the view that the message by the national president could not have come at a better time than now when the ruling Congress is gripped by leadership tussle. “The message by the national president has clearly shown that the party high command is now watching its State unit,” observed a leader.