BJP likely to set up coordination panels at every level

BJP likely to set up coordination panels at every level
SHARAD GUPTA

NEW DELHI, DEC 3: Chastened by the unsavoury tussle between the party organisation and the Government headed by it, the BJP is likely to constitute coordination committees from panchayat level to Parliament level.

This is one of the recommendations of the 10-member Jana Krishnamurthi committee on constitutional reforms within the BJP. ``We are preparing a system for smooth interaction between party organisation and its legislature wing'', Krishnamurthi told The Indian Express. The amendment was necessary after the party came to power not in several states but at the Centre as well, he said.

The committee's recommendations is apparently in view of the fact that power had already been devolved to village panchayat level in several states like UP and Madhya Pradesh while other states were likely to follow suit. The party is likely to create a new post in its organisation for the purpose.

Another important recommendation of the committee is providing for reservation for women in party's organisationstructure. The quota however, will vary from post to post, Krishnamurthi said.

The committee's recommendations, which include extending the party president's term from the existing two years to three years and reducing the number of dormant members by renewing membership every five years instead of existing 10 years, are likely to come up for discussion at the BJP's national council meeting on Dec 27 and 28.

The national council members will be free to suggest amendments in the committee's recommendations which will be included as amendment in BJP's constitution after being approved both by the council and the national executive supposed to meet on December 29.

The party, however, has put an embargo till 2002 on adopting the amendment on membership clause after which it will not only the membership fee from the present two rupees, but will also try to increase its membership by 20 per cent every year. The party had two crore members on its rolls two years ago and the present estimate was at three crore,he said.

The amendment suggested to extend party president's post right from ward and district level to the national level – also stipulated only one term for them ruling out extension for one more term as was the current practice. Thus, the term would in fact be reduced by one year.

The amendment was needed in view of growing feeling at lower level in the organisation questioning extension of term for a person while denial of extension to another person. ``There should be a uniform policy to avoid such feeling'', Krishnamurthi said.

Another amendment has been suggested to simplify the cumbersome process for organisational elections in the party. This would also reduce the time needed to hold organisational polls –at least four months excluding the period needed for fresh enrolment of members.

The party was also likely to evolve a system to prevent inexperienced newly entrants in the BJP – not processed by the party and lacking maturity because lack of training – from occupying positions in theparty.