The BJP national president Amit Shah effected a crucial change in the State party unit organisation on Friday by removing S. Mohanrajulu from the organising secretary’s post, which he held for 13 years. Senior RSS pracharak and party joint organising secretary Kesava Vinayagan was appointed in his place.
A section of party functionaries felt the change was overdue as Mr. Vinayagan was brought into the BJP in April ostensibly to replace Mr. Mohanrajulu.
Sources claimed that Mr. Mohanrajulu had been facing several complaints over the last two years, including the charge of attempting to sideline senior leaders so that he could be elevated as the party’s State unit president.
Mr. Mohanarajulu’s critics claimed that the organising secretary, who acts as the bridge between the State unit, the Central leadership and the RSS, is expected to maintain a low-key profile and shun all ambitions.
Also the organising secretary in the saffron party is usually a bachelor so that he could more time to the organisation but sacked leader had married two years ago.
However, Mr. Mohanrajulu has consistently dismissed all such charges and maintained that there was no evidence of any wrong-doing on his part. He was also considered very close to Union Minister Pon. Radhakrishnan.
“The Central leadership depends on the organising secretary for non-partisan inputs,” a senior leader said requesting anonymity adding that there is no fixed tenure for the crucial post.
The change now sets the stage for the crucial State president election in December.
Since there is a “cooling off” period in BJP party rules, Mr. Mohanrajulu may not be able to contest, feel his critics.
