Sneh Ticku, Pune
In a move aimed at striking a crucial regional and caste balance ahead of the upcoming elections in Rajasthan, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has inducted former state president Satish Poonia and Rajya Sabha member Kirori Lal Meena into its national working committee.
As part of a broader expansion of the committee, the BJP welcomed ten new members, including Poonia and Meena, on Saturday. Political observers perceive this development as the beginning of the two leaders’ foray into national politics.
Poonia, who served as BJP state president for three and a half years, assumed office just before the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite initial surprise within the party regarding his appointment as a first-time MLA, Poonia proved his mettle on the ground, earning recognition and respect.
“By constantly covering the biggest state across its length and breadth, Poonia had his stature elevated from an MLA to a state leader. His strong popularity in the Jat community, which is the biggest and one of the most influential in the state, served to his advantage,” remarked a BJP leader.
In March, Poonia was replaced by CP Joshi, a two-time MP from Chittorgarh, and was subsequently appointed as the deputy leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly. While some perceived this as a demotion, Poonia continued to draw larger crowds than the party’s state president during public appearances.
“While it was seen as a demotion for Poonia, his public appearances are seen drawing bigger crowds than the party’s state president. He was given the charge of organizing celebrations of PM Modi’s nine years in office in four Lok Sabha constituencies in UP – Amroha, Sambhal, Moradabad and Mainpuri. This put him further in the limelight,” said a BJP leader.
Kirori Lal Meena, on the other hand, gained popularity by highlighting youth-related issues over the past two years. Recognizing his grasp on these matters, the state BJP recently provided him an official platform, and the latest induction is seen as an extension of that gesture.
“Meena used to hold pressers at private places as BJP showed no interest in him. But things started changing and the party embraced him for his efforts to expose corruption,” a BJP leader was quoted as saying. As the BJP strategically balances regional and caste dynamics by welcoming Poonia and Meena into its national working committee, all eyes are now on the upcoming elections in Rajasthan. These key inductions reflect the party’s intention to harness the influence and popularity of these leaders, ensuring a formidable presence in the state’s political landscape.