Want a BJP ticket? Pass an examination first

Syllabus and examination structure devised by top management consultant.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has introduced a written test for all those who want its ticket to fight elections to Parliament or state legislative bodies. The rule applies to all, including elected representatives and office bearers. The score in the examination along with an assessment of the applicant’s elective merits, character qualities and following within the party and outside will decide whether or not he should be given a ticket.

The examination is a part of the three-phased structured training programme launched by the party. BJP, which is ruling in eight states, plans to provide training to as many as 20,000 party members during 2010-11. BJP had started out as a party with a clean cadre of workers, but the advantage got lost over the last few years. The latest attempts are aimed at regaining some of the lost ground.

A comprehensive syllabus and the examination structure have been prepared by a leading management consultant. Among those who passed the first such examination last week included Supreme Court lawyer and party secretary Bhupendra Yadav and Delhi’s former finance minister, Jagdish Mukhi.

BJP President Nitin Gadkari has communicated to all state units that the culture of sycophancy and kowtowing to party leaders in Delhi for tickets will no longer work. “Performance will be given higher weight during ticket distribution. While selecting party workers for shouldering responsibilities, their ability to deliver the goods would be given more importance; hence it makes sense to get trained and build our capacities,” he said. Gadkari added that BJP will soon construct a full-fledged training centre in New Delhi, and its state units have also been asked to set up such training centres as well as research and development wings.

A BJP leader, who did not want to be quoted, said Gadkari has also introduced a strict procedure to review the performance of all party office bearers at various levels, elected representatives, MPs and MLAs and even ministers. “The message is quite loud and clear. Those who perform will be rewarded, while non-performers will be sent home,” he added. Gadkari has asked all party units, elected representatives and BJP governments (in states) to prepare their own Annual Performance Reports. These reports would help the party promote greater accountability.