BJP warns against dissidence ahead of Panchayat polls

Ahead of the Panchayat polls in Uttar Pradesh, BJP today sent across a strong message against dissidence and warned that those who protested or acted against nominees of the party might face expulsion on disciplinary grounds.
"We are hopeful of putting up a very good performance in the Panchayat polls. The people of the state are suffering due to the misrule of Samajwadi Party which had won power after the people had become disillusioned with the previous BSP government," BJP's UP unit president Laxmi Kant Bajpai said.
"This is an opportunity which our party workers must not fritter away," he told reporters here.

He said BJP believes in and practices internal democracy and the party choses its nominees after extensive consultations with workers at all levels.
"However, we are not going to tolerate indiscipline. Once nominees are announced, we would advise workers against doing or speaking anything that harms the party's prospects. Their failure to comply with the directions may lead to their expulsion from the party," Bajpai said.
BJP had put up a stunning performance in the politically crucial state in the Lok Sabha election last year bagging 71 out of the 78 seats it had contested. UP has a total of 80 Lok Sabha seats.

The party hopes to keep up the momentum until the 2017 Assembly polls and is eyeing the Panchayat polls as an opportunity to widen its base beyond its traditional voters comprising the urban middle class.
Panchayat polls are being held in the state in four phases -- the first of which will take place tomorrow. Counting of votes is slated for November one.