Report cards to decide MLAs’ fate BJP gears up for Assembly election

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The BJP is going to give tickets to party MLAs and Ministers based on their performances. Now the party is ready to get the performances of their MLAs and Ministers assessed by a neutral micromanagement agency. The move has certainly stirred up a section of the party’s MLAs and Ministers.

The performance of a section of BJP MLAs and Ministers, mostly first-timers, is not that good. According to party sources, at a time when the voters are conscious enough to assess the development in their constituencies on their own, giving ticket to non-performing candidates may deal a blow to the party in the poll outcome. The sources, however, say that certainly the reasons behind poor performance in the constituencies will be taken into account during the performance assessment. If the reasons shown by an MLA or a Minister for his/her poor performance are genuine, naturally that will be taken into account, the sources said.

On the criteria for according party tickets to the candidates of the AGP and the BPF, the source said, “We can’t ask for the report cards of the ticket-seeking MLAs and Ministers, even though they’re our allies. We can only make a plea to their high commands to take into account the performances of their candidates while giving them poll tickets.”

Soon after taking charge, the Ministers were seen making sudden visits to the offices all over the State, besides holding frequent review meetings on the progress of works. However, with the passage of time that tempo has evaporated into the thin air.

The situation is not as simple as it looks. A section of Ministers blames it on the late release of funds for various schemes for the non-completion of projects. When projects are left incomplete, the blames generally goes to the MLA concerned. Some of the Ministers have failed to have a good grip over the bureaucrats, which leads to poor performance in the departments.

Besides, the two reshuffles of the Cabinet by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has left a very short span of time for a few Ministers to perform.

The BJP is not ready to take the risk, especially after the Delhi poll result. The party is now laying stress on schemes that can directly benefit the public. In a recent review meeting, the Chief Minister has stressed on potable water and fixed timeframes to the bureaucrats to get the projects completed.

Hardly a year is left for the Assembly election in the State. After State party president Ranjeet Kumar Dass’s recent announcement on the report card-centric tickets, many party MLAs are seen looking after incomplete projects in their respective constituencies.

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