Thakur calls for 'deep introspection' over poll result

Expressing concern over the poor show by BJP in the last round of by-polls soon after the completion of 100 days of the Narendra Modi government, senior party leader C P Thakur today called for 'deep introspection' to find out the reasons and rued the 'marginalisation' of veteran leaders.
"The electoral reverses in the latest round of by-polls call for a deep introspection by BJP leadership to find out reasons behind defeat," he told reporters here.
It is a 'matter of concern' that BJP has faced electoral setback in key states like Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan soon after the impressive mandate in the general elections, Thakur, who was health minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, said.

"A deep introspection will give us the opportunity not only to find out fault lines within our party and electoral strategy, but will also help us work out strategy for assembly polls to be held in a number of states later this year," he said.
Thakur rued the marginalisation of a number of veteran leaders within the party and said a barrier has been created to deprive charge to those attaining 75 years of age or beyond to work in government and decision-making process within the party.
"The BJP leadership should remove the artificial barrier and give an opportunity to eligible MPs irrespective of their age to work with government," he said.

He cited the instances of physicist J R Oppenheimer and litterateur Leo Tolstoy saying their best works came at a late stage of their lives.
Thakur, a former state unit BJP chief, has been known as an ardent Modi supporter could not be given any ministerial berth because of his age.