Trouble in paradise

Though everything seems to be going the BJP’s way in Madhya Pradesh, the real test awaits and its own cadre is likely to emerge a bigger concern than the Congress

- SRAVANI SARKAR

EVEN BEFORE THE results of the Rajya Sabha elections were announced in Madhya Pradesh, social media saw a stream of congratulatory messages emanating from the BJP camp. Sure enough, the party won two of three seats on offer. Senior BJP leaders went to the state assembly with winning candidate Sumer Singh Solanki and a representative of the second winner, Jyotiraditya Scindia, who could not be present because he was in Covid-19 quarantine, to collect the winning certificate.

But they were not elated as expected. It seemed as though future tasks were hanging heavy on their hands. Political watchers say that despite regaining power and the high of the Rajya Sabha polls, the BJP’s real test is just about to start. And trouble is likely to emanate from within.

Sources say that when the much-publicised “Operation Kamal” was set in motion in the state in March, the BJP had two objectives— dislodge the 15-month-old Congress government and win two Rajya Sabha seats. Before that, the BJP was not in a statistical position to ensure two Rajya Sabha berths, despite having 107 MLAs in the 230-strong assembly. Both objectives were achieved when Scindia and the 22 MLAs who supported him quit the Congress for the BJP.

Now, with Scindia in the upper house—considered part of the deal— the BJP has to fulfil promises made to his supporters. And this is going to be tough, say political watchers. “Now with Rajya Sabha polls done, the BJP has to set about expanding the Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet to accommodate Scindia supporters who have been waiting for three months,” political analyst Manish Dixit says.