New Delhi: BJP has started a novel "talent
hunt" among its Lok Sabha members to recognise and
appreciate their hidden skills and qualities as well as
improve the camaraderie among the party MPs.
"We have asked our 12 whips, appointed to lead MPs from
their state, in the Lok Sabha to invite members in their team
for dinner where we ask them about their talents and skills,"
Leader of Opposition in the Lower House Sushma Swaraj said.
Other than Swaraj, Parliamentary Party chief L K Advani,
Deputy Leader of BJP in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde and party
Chief Whip Ramesh Bais are regular features at each one of
these dinners.
"At a dinner hosted by Guwahati MP Bijoya Chakravarty for
our Lok Sabha MPs from North-East, Advani mimicked a cricket
commentator of yesteryears who used to do commentary in the
Bombay Pentagular cricket matches," Swaraj said.
The BJP MPs have sprung a surprise at each other on such
occasions and though some of them have known each other for
years, their talents were unknown among them.
"Advani told us that he likes cricket and movies. He can
also play the flute and drums. During RSS Shakhas (drills), he
used to teach singing to the cadre," Swaraj said.
During these sessions, more interesting details have
stumbled out. Munde, for example, told fellow MPs that he is
the only literate member in his family in three generations.
"None of my brothers, or my father or the generation
before him went to school. I completed my graduation and then
the Sangh financed my law education," Munde said.
The OBC leader was also a skilled debater and it was
during these debating sessions that he met BJP leader Pramod
Mahajan.
"They met during the debating sessions and then Munde
ran away with Pramod`s sister," Swaraj joked. Munde is married
to the late leader`s younger sister.
For a party afflicted by inner-party conflict and a
fight for supremacy in the organisation, such exercises would
go a long way in cutting down on the acrimony and bitterness
among these legislators, feel party leaders.
PTI
