Amid declining electoral fortunes, Gujarat BJP awaits its new head

Plagued with leadership issues, Gujarat unit of BJP is finding it difficult to choose its new president at a time when the party is going through its worst phase after 2001 in the wake of Patel quota agitation and loss in local bodies polls.

The state unit had announced that the new Gujarat BJP president will be appointed after Makarsankrati on January 15. However, it has been delayed for an indefinite period as BJP has not yet finalised the name of the candidate to head the unit in Gujarat, where assembly elections are due next year.

The term of present state unit chief R C Faldu had expired long back.

"The appointment has been delayed as the party central leadership has not been able to finalise the name," a senior party leader said.

"The party is going through one of the worst crises after 2001 and in these times it is crucial to find the right person for the post," another party leader said.

Party president Amit Shah during his three-day stay on Makarsankrati in Ahmedabad had met several leaders in connection with selection of candidate for the post of state unit president.

After he went back to Delhi, MP Arjun Ram Meghwal was appointed as an observer for BJP state president election on January 17.

The confusion is whether to appoint a Patel as state BJP president or an OBC at a time when the party has denied reservation to Patels, a source in the party said.

A section of party thinks when Chief Minister Anandiben Patel is from the Patel community it won't be wise to appoint another Patel to the post. While another section thinks that in wake of Patel quota agitation, appointment of a Patel will send a good signal, the sources added.

Party spokesman I K Jadeja said that appointment of state BJP president will be done in due course.

After departure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the political scene of the state, Patel quota agitation and loss in rural local bodies polls, BJP is passing through a bad phase in Gujarat which will go to polls in 2017.