The Tamil Nadu BJP is bracing itself for a shake up in alignment with its new national president Amit Shah’s political priorities.
Sources told The Hindu that the newly appointed State president Tamilisai Soundararajan is in the process of short-listing names for a fresh team of office bearers. The list will be submitted to Mr. Shah in New Delhi on August 26 for his approval.
“After a new president takes over, it is a convention that the person forms a fresh team. Also, additional vacancies for the posts of general secretary and vice-president, which have come up following amendments to party constitution, have to be filled,” said a national-level leader.
The leader pointed out that in the short period since his appointment, Mr. Shah had been taking keen interest in the core teams of the five southern States.
“Fertile grounds”“The party feels Tamil Nadu and Kerala are fertile grounds for expansion. Hence, preference will be given to committed field workers.”
Incidentally, Mr. Shah is expected to visit the two States in late August and early September to outline his vision for the future.
Crucially, Mr. Shah’s own team at the national level has roped in quite a few young faces with a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh background. Over two-thirds of the national team had leaders below the age of 50 in its composition, which, sources said, was the strategy mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The same policy was likely to be followed in Tamil Nadu as well.
However, sources said an immediate change to the key post of organising secretary, currently held by S. Mohanrajulu, may not be in the cards for the purpose of convenience.
“Mr. Mohanrajulu has the backing of Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan. Also, given that the party has to get ready for the 2016 Assembly polls, a change may not happen immediately,” said a State leader.
Traditionally, the organising secretary’s post is reserved for those delegated or recommended by the RSS. Any change will involve extensive deliberations with two organisations.
