Work towards fixing the organisationally "lean patches": Nadda to BJP's Karnataka unit
Bengaluru: BJP national president J P Nadda on Saturday asked the Karnataka unit to work towards fixing the organisationally "lean patches" in the state like the old Mysuru region, where the party is weak, in a year's time.
He also said the Karnataka unit should have a "very strong" IT cell, to take the work of state and central government among the masses and to have a discourse about the party's political agenda at the ground level.
"Karnataka has got a strong organisational background, but along with that there are some patches in between..there are some districts where we are weak. Lean patches like old Mysuru areas have to be marked," Nadda said.
Addressing the virtual meeting of new office bearers of Karnataka BJP, he said, wherever the party is strong, in those areas also there are some weak spots, and it should be demarcated and state unit chief Nalin Kateel should give the responsibility of such areas to each office bearer.
"Ministers, office bearers should be involved and we will have to prepare a one year programme for these organisationally weak areas.Within a year's time how we can get things right there, we should work towards it," he said.
The BJP is not strong in the old Mysuru or southern Karnataka belt, which is a Vokkaliga stronghold, and the Congress and JD(S) have been traditional rivals in the region. However, the BJP during the 2019 Lok Sabha and December bypolls had made significant inroads in the region.
Noting that the team of new office bearers is the combination of old with experience and young faces, Nadda said all should work together. Almost a year into his taking over as the president of Karnataka BJP, Nalin Kumar Kateel on July 31 had appointed vice presidents, general secretaries, secretaries and spokesperson to the state unit, putting in place a full-fledged team of office-bearers.
Calling for the formation of mandal and shakti kendra committees at grassroot level and creation of new WhatsApp groups at the booth level for micro management, Nadda gave instructions for developing a "very strong" IT cell in the state.
"Every week we should give material of IT cell regarding achievement at national and state level, so that there is discourse at the ground level about our political agenda and the work our governments have done," he added.
The BJP president said that a week long virtual training camp for all office bearers, district, mandal, shakti kendra and booth level leaders should have to be organised and capsules prepared for it. He also stressed on taking the work, programmes and achievements of BJP government at the state and the centre to the masses.
Speaking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently laying the foundation for Ram temple in Ayodhya, Nadda said "for the last 500 years, generations have fought for this Mandir and we were fortunate to see it happen (foundation- laying) in front of our eyes. It is an emotional moment for all of us, and we should certainly share this emotional moment with the people," he said.
Noting that it has been one year since the abrogation of Article 370, the BJP president told the party office bearers to gather information about the good works that have happened in the last one year in Jammu and Kashmir and take it to the people to make them aware of it.
Terming the national education policy as a "big step" by the Modi government, he claimed no one has been able to criticise even one aspect of this policy, and urged the party men to read, understand and translate it.
Stating that this education policy gives priority for local language as medium in primary and secondary education, he said "before this India was studying, now- Bharat will study."
Nadda also requested the Karnataka Education minister to implement the National Education Policy in the state and said the party should also get involved in it.
Noting that the BJP government in Karnataka has completed one full year of its tenure under the "dynamic leadership" of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Nadda said, this tenure has been mostly amidst COVID 19 crisis and flood-like situation triggered by rains.
COVID-19 crisis as well as supporting the marginal sections of the society has been managed effectively under the leadership of Yediyurappa, he said, adding, the Karnataka government has done a "wonderful job."
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New Faces: 10 talents who are ready to own IPL this season
New Delhi (PTI): Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre hogged the limelight in their debut IPL season last year and in the upcoming edition too, there would be quite a few who would like to justify the tournament tagline of "Where Talent Meets Opportunity".
PTI takes a look at one rookie from each of the 10 franchises who are expected to make a name for themselves in the next eight weeks.
The list comprises both Indian and international names who either haven't yet made their IPL debut or have played less than five games so far.
Prashant Veer (Chennai Super Kings):
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There are plenty of cricketers in India, who bowl slow left-arm orthodox and bat left-handed. But none of them are faced with the task of filling up the big boots of Ravindra Jadeja like the 20-year-old Amethi-born Prashant Veer.
Never before has one witnessed Chennai Super Kings invest so heavily in youth. The franchise bagged him with a Rs 14.20 crore bid, based more on potential and how the scouts felt after looking at him during trials.
The 20-year-old has only nine Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) matches under his belt but with a bowling economy rate of 6.45 and a batting strike-rate of 167 plus, Prashant Veer is expected to play a big part for the 'Canary Yellows' this season.
Auqib Nabi (Delhi Capitals):
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At 29, Nabi isn't a spring chicken and has a good eight years of domestic cricket under his belt but the anticipation surrounding his IPL debut would make DC fans believe that they are in for something special.
After a stellar Ranji season during which he claimed 60 odd wickets to singlehandedly get the trophy for Jammu and Kashmir, the 'Baramullah Express's big-match temperament and India prospects will be judged this year.
He has played 34 T20 games for J&K in SMAT and the economy rate of 7.74 is good for someone who mostly bowls in Powerplays.
The only worrying factor will be his average speed, which is in early 130s and could be cannon fodder for international batters.
Ashok Sharma (Gujarat Titans):
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Ashok, one of the fastest young bowlers in India, has been a part of Rajasthan Royals set-up but hasn't got a game so far in the IPL.
There are no guarantees that the 23-year-old will get one this season with GT, especially with Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna being around as first two choices along with Kagiso Rabada.
However, among back-up Indian pacers, Ashok could be looked at by head coach Ashish Nehra, especially after clocking 150 kmph at this year's SMAT.
Tejasvi Dahiya (Kolkata Knight Riders):
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Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Abhishek Nayar's protege Angkrish Raghuvanshi is being prepared as the batter-keeper since he has already played a couple of IPL seasons.
But the 23-year-old Dahiya, who hails from Delhi, is also a serious talent, who if persisted with, could give results in long run. He scored a half-century for Delhi during the last SMAT and a strike-rate of 168 makes him a good bet in the middle-order.
Naman Tiwari (Lucknow Super Giants):
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Good left-arm pacers are few and far between in India and the 2024 U-19 World Cupper Naman Tiwari has impressed one and all during trials.
The 20-year-old regularly clocks northwards of 140 clicks, had a good 2024 UP T20 league for Noida Kings and could be a handy back-up option if need be.
Tiwari has the ability to get deliveries straighten to right handers.
Allah Ghazanfar (Mumbai Indians):
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If there is one bowler that IPL fans have been eagerly waiting to watch, it has to be 20-year-old Ghazanfar, the latest from the stable of mystery spinners produced by Afghanistan.
Ghazanfar was supposed to play for KKR last season but had opted out. He has done well for MI Emirates and this season, Mahela Jayawardene would be tempted to use him as one of the four overseas options.
Mitchell Owen (Punjab Kings):
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Last season, Owen got to face only two balls in a single game but the burly Tasmanian is coming on the back of a reputation that he has built for Hobart Hurricanes with a strike-rate of 187 over 36 Big Bash League games and a strike rate of 180 plus in 75 career T20 games.
The 24-year-old has the ability to give the ball mighty thwack and to add to it, he can slip in an over or two of medium pace.
Ravi Singh (Rajasthan Royals):
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The 24-year-old Railwayman smashed 218 runs for his side with a strike rate of 173 during SMAT last year.
The highlight certainly was a 38-ball-68 in a successful chase against Vidarbha -- an attack that had IPL players Yash Thakur, Harsh Dubey and Darshan Nalkande. It fetched him Rs 95 lakh deal with RR and it would be interesting to follow his progress this season.
Jacob Bethell (Royal Challengers Benagluru):
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The 22-year-old scored a half-century last season in one of the two games that he got a look-in but this time, Bethell is coming into the IPL on the back of a superb century in the T20 World Cup semi-final against India at the Wankhede.
On Chinnaswamy belters, he along with Jitesh Sharma, could become a nightmare for the opposition teams.
Shivang Kumar (Sunrisers Hyderabad):
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The 23-year-old from Madhya Pradesh bowls left-arm wrist spin that makes him a rare commodity. Unlike Kuldeep, who has an angular run-up to the crease, Shivang has a more orthodox straight run-up.
He is also a handy lower order batter but it remains to be seen if SRH head coach Daniel Vettori can find a slot for him.
