New Delhi:
BJP President Nitin Gadkari is in Gandhigiri mode. He has told partymen to work like an NGO and reconnect with the people at the grass-root level.
First he refused to dress in
khadi like the usual neta now he has asked partymen to reconnect to the
aam admi by working like NGO workers.
To implement Gadkari's Gandhigiri, the BJP may have to:
- Operate free tuition centres and career counseling for students
- Distribute free text books
- Setting up health clinics, blood donor lists
- Free health assistance to old and disabled
The message in this is to regain credibility. The BJP has to work for the
aam admi, not just be a political opponent.
The BJP's Antyodaya is perhaps an open admission that the party has lost touch with the grassroots. Though party leaders deny it - insiders admit this is the RSS' response to Rahul Gandhi's rural forays.
That is why the first Antyodaya workshop was for young MPs.
Anurag Thakur, BJP MP, "If we work for people then only our base will expand."
Gadkari's critics say this is mere tokenism, but his supporters say, for too long BJP has been in news for fighting strident Hindutva, this, however, is a positive signal.