BJP ticket seekers need GK lessons in Rajasthan

Those interviewed for civic polls don't know CM's name

While the ruling BJP in the state has mobilised its resources to win the local body polls, many of its leaders aspiring for a party ticket do not even know who is the present chief minister of the state.

During interviews conducted for the candidates’ selection for the civic polls, many aspirants could not answer simple questions like who is the chief minister of Rajasthan, who is the state BJP president and how many seats the BJP won in the recent Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

Senior leaders these days are interviewing ticket seekers at the party office. But the vague answers by many aspirants have triggered a hilarious debate in political circles.

A contestant from ward No 50 of Bagru Assembly seat of Jaipur declared state president Ashok Parnami as the chief minister of Rajasthan.

“During the interview Bagru legislator Kailash Verma asked the leader to name the chief minister of Rajasthan. The leader confidently named Ashok Parnami, who is the state BJP president,” said a senior BJP legislator.

Many other leaders also had a vague reply to this simple question, he added.
Similarly, another contestant from the ward No 45 was asked the profile of Ashok Parnami and he conveniently declared him as state president of Yuva Morcha.

In many cases the aspiring candidates turned aggressive and started cross-questioning the panel of interviewers.

“One of the leaders was asked about the birth anniversary of the BJP stalwart Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya and he challenged the panellists to answer it.

The irked panellists refused to answer following which he advised them to ask those questions for which they know the answers,” said a senior legislator.

There were several women leaders who wanted to contest just to ensure basic facilities for their family.

“A woman ticket seeker was asked about the reason to contest the election. She narrated a long list of civic problems that her family occasionally faced in her locality.

She wanted to solve family-related issues after winning election,” said a senior leader of party.

Many candidates did not even know how many times Vasundhara Raje has been the chief minister of Rajasthan and how many seats the party won in this Assembly election, he added.

Senior leaders are of the view that performance of the party in the previous elections, coupled with Modi’s influence has raised aspirations of the local leaders.

Due to this even the non-serious party workers were trying to get a party ticket as they were confident of winning the elections.

“Everyone is thinking that they will win elections easily if they get a BJP ticket. So non-serious leaders are also trying for a party ticket,” said a BJP office bearer.