BJP to depute spokespersons in poll-bound states

The BJP will depute national spokespersons in poll-bound states for better coordination and avoid controversies against its government at the Centre and the party.

BJP sources said three spokespersons – G V L Narasimha Rao, Anil Balooni and Sambit Patra have been identified to be deputed in election-bound states. Rao will be in Kerala, Balooni in Assam and Patra in West Bengal, said party sources.

By stationing its spokespersons, the Central leadership wants to ensure that the 18-month-old Modi government’s performance is presented in the states accurately since the party’s campaigning mainstay would be the prime minister and his development agenda, said party sources.

The party has so far only decided to project Sports mMinister Sarbananda Sonowal as the chief ministerial candidate in Assam, where it believes it has a chance to unsettle the Congress government, and in other two states it is likely to jump into the fray with individual faces and market Modi’s achievements.

In these three states, the BJP would be among opposition to fight against ruling parties – the Congress in Assam and Kerala and the TMC in West Bengal – during the Assembly elections.

The spokespersons would tutor state leaders on addressing media to avoid possible unwanted controversies that may emanate due to different and some times contradictory voices coming from the BJP camp.