Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Gadkari wants the state governments run by the party to be more accountable to the party’s national leadership. He has launched an exercise to bring in accountability and transparency in these states.
The states would, henceforth, be answerable to the central leadership on issues relating to good governance, fiscal management, infrastructure development, poverty reduction, farmers welfare, labour welfare and measures taken to promote new investments and implementation of public-private-partnership (PPP) projects. To start with, the Maharashtra model of organising training camps for office bearers and party functionaries is being implemented in all the states.
To disabuse critics who may view this as centralisation of power, Gadkari emphasises that “performance will count for more than proximity to the party president”.
Speaking to Business Standard, he said: “Good governance is my mission. I am not averse to imitating pro-development projects implemented by the Congress and the Communist governments. Besides, the BJP ruled states will be asked to follow each other on development and social welfare to augment GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and per capita income.”
Gadkari has already held meetings with the state finance ministers and plans to have similar meetings with the ministers of tribal development and public health. He wants the states to step up their effort to create more jobs.
Gadkari’s wish list includes replicating Jeevandayi Yojana implemented by the Congress in Maharashtra. Under the scheme, it is mandatory for private hospitals to provide free surgical care to patients belonging to weaker sections. Ladli Laxmi scheme in Madhya Pradesh is another, which benefits the girl child belonging to below poverty line families. He is also keen that BJP states take a cue from the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat to prepare soil health card scheme. It aims to increase agricultural productivity and crop quality.
A BJP functionary and close to Gadkari, requesting anonymity, said the party president was also keen on bringing in objectivity in governance and carry out performance appraisal. “Gadkari’s approach is different. Under it, the chief ministers of the BJP-run states will have to be accountable to the party and its ideological movement.”
