Lucknow, Feb 20 Growing discontent among the BJP's cadres in Uttar Pradesh could cost the party dearly.
A senior party functionary said, "The party's defeat in the Delhi assembly elections is just the tip of the iceberg and if the leadership does not address certain issues, the trend may be repeated in other states, including UP."
According to the functionary the BJP, in recent years, has started giving top positions to 'turncoats and outsiders', completely ignoring those who have worked their way up.
"Leaders who came in from the Samajwadi Party were rewarded with memberships of the legislative council and Rajya Sabha, while our own party leaders have been left out in the cold. This is naturally causing considerable heartburn among our workers," said the functionary.
Party leaders feel that the main cause of the BJP defeat in Delhi was the lack of acceptance of Delhi party unit chief Manoj Tiwari as a leader by the party cadres.
Tiwari had joined the BJP in 2013 and three years later, in 2016, he was appointed the Delhi chief.
A former party MP said, "Tiwari was the SP candidate against Yogi Adityanath in 2009 and suddenly he is one of our tallest leaders now. Why should party workers continue to work if they are not given an opportunity to grow in the organisation?"
After the BJP debacle in the Delhi polls,
Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh has asked the party MLAs to establish better coordination with the booth and sector-level workers who work for the party at the ground level.
"We have been asked to meet the booth-level workers frequently to gain the ground-level feedback about the prevailing political situation and for a better connect with the people," said a party legislator.
"It is my job to strengthen the organisational structure which is crucial for any political party," said the UP BJP chief.
The legislators, however, are upset at the manner in which they are being treated by the bureaucracy.
"The leaders tell us to remain connected with party workers but no one seems bothered about our problems. We have repeatedly told our leaders that the high-handed attitude of the bureaucrats and police officials will make us pay a heavy price in elections but no steps have been taken to redeem the situation," said a BJP MLA from eastern UP.
( With inputs from IANS )