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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Victory in the streets, vacuum in the office

State BJP without official body since over 8 months Mumbai: Despite a crushing wave of victories across Maharashtra’s urban and rural landscape, the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finds itself in a peculiar state of organizational paralysis. More than eight months after Ravindra Chavan officially took the reins as State President from Chandrashekhar Bawankule in July 2025, the party has failed to constitute its state executive body, exposing deep-seated internal friction and a...

Victory in the streets, vacuum in the office

State BJP without official body since over 8 months Mumbai: Despite a crushing wave of victories across Maharashtra’s urban and rural landscape, the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finds itself in a peculiar state of organizational paralysis. More than eight months after Ravindra Chavan officially took the reins as State President from Chandrashekhar Bawankule in July 2025, the party has failed to constitute its state executive body, exposing deep-seated internal friction and a deadlock with the central leadership in Delhi. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited Delhi twice this week. On Friday he also called on the newly elected national party president Nitin Nabin. Though it is being speculated that the meeting might lead to political realignment in the state, real question is whether it will bring to the tracks the derailed organizational appointments of the state party unit. The primary catalyst for this administrative limbo is said to be a strict directive from the BJP high command. In a bid to ensure that elected representatives remain laser-focused on their constituencies ahead of the 2029 cycle, the party leadership has mandated that no sitting MLA should be appointed as an organizational office bearer. While logically sound, this "one person, one post" enforcement has drained the pool of seasoned leaders available for the state body. State President Ravindra Chavan, himself an MLA from Dombivli, is reportedly struggling to balance the requirement for experienced "organizational engines" with the demand for fresh, non-legislative faces. The friction has reportedly peaked over the appointment of a specific former minister who lost his seat during the 2024 Lok Sabha debacle. Sources indicate this leader, who feels sidelined after being denied a cabinet berth in the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, is lobbying aggressively for the powerful post of State General Secretary. However, the Delhi high command remains unimpressed. Citing his recent electoral loss and a "cloud of controversy" surrounding his previous tenure, the central leadership has twice rejected the list of office bearers submitted by the state unit. This tug-of-war has effectively stalled the entire process, as the state unit is hesitant to move forward without accommodating senior loyalists. The irony of the situation is not lost on political observers. The organizational delay comes at a time when the BJP’s "election machine" is performing at its peak. While demonstrating its civic dominance, in the January 2026 municipal elections, the BJP swept 1,425 out of 2,869 seats across 29 corporations, including a historic victory in the BMC. It also demonstrated its rural surge in the recently concluded Zilla Parishad polls, where the party emerged as the single largest entity, winning 225 of 731 seats. "The party is winning on the strength of the 'Fadnavis-Chavan' duo and the Mahayuti's momentum, but the skeletal structure of the organization is missing. We have generals and soldiers, but no mid-level commanders," noted a senior party strategist on the condition of anonymity. When questioned about the delay, Ravindra Chavan’s office has maintained a disciplined silence. Staffers decline to provide a timeline, merely stating that "consultations are ongoing." This lack of a formal state body means that key wings of the party—including the Youth, Women, and Kisan Morchas—are operating without a full set of sanctioned leaders. While the BJP continues to win elections through centralized command, the simmering discontent among senior leaders who feel "abandoned" by the high command's new rules could pose a challenge to long-term internal harmony.

Purvodaya Scheme: Linking Industry, Connectivity, and Tourism

Purvodaya aims to strengthen tourism potential and enhance connectivity in East and Northeast India.

The Government of India has recently launched the Purvodaya Scheme to promote economic and tourism development in the eastern and northeastern regions of the country. The scheme aims to strengthen tourism potential and enhance connectivity under the East Coast Industrial Corridor, with Durgapur emerging as a key connecting node.


The initiative focuses on five major states—Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh—and includes the deployment of nearly 4,000 electric buses (e-buses) to improve sustainable transportation. In addition, the scheme has been specially designed to promote the Buddhist tourism circuit across Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. As stated by the Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, the programme will cover the preservation of temples and monasteries, the establishment of pilgrimage interpretation centres, and the development of essential pilgrim amenities.


Tourism Potential of the Seven Sisters

The northeastern states, popularly known as the “Seven Sisters of India”—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura—represent a unique blend of rich cultural heritage, biodiversity, and scenic natural landscapes.

  • Arunachal Pradesh is known for its spectacular landscapes, rivers, and religious sites such as Tawang Monastery, one of the most important Buddhist centres in India. Although tourism growth has been moderate, it continues to attract cultural and nature-based tourists.

  • Assam is famous for Kaziranga National Park, Brahmaputra River cruises, tea gardens, and cultural heritage. It remains the largest contributor to tourism in the Northeast, with steady growth in both domestic and foreign tourist arrivals.

  • Manipur, known for Loktak Lake, rolling hills, and cultural festivals, has experienced a sharp decline in tourist visits in recent years, presenting challenges for tourism development.

  • Meghalaya offers major ecotourism attractions such as Balpakram and Nokrek Biosphere Reserve and has recorded consistent growth in both domestic and international tourism.

  • Mizoram is characterised by dense forests, tribal culture, and adventure tourism and has emerged as the fastest-growing tourism destination in the region.

  • Nagaland, known for the Hornbill Festival and vibrant tribal traditions, shows gradual growth in tourism.

  • Tripura is recognised for its historical temples and cultural heritage and has witnessed strong growth in domestic tourism.


Tourist Growth Trend (in million visitors)

State

2014

2019

2023–25

Trend

Assam

4.3

6.7

7.5+

Strong growth

Meghalaya

0.6

1.2

1.5+

Steady growth

Tripura

0.3

0.5

0.6+

Good growth

Mizoram

0.1

0.2

0.5

Fastest growth

Arunachal

0.15

0.3

0.25

Moderate

Nagaland

0.1

0.15

0.13

Slow

Manipur

0.2

0.17

0.02

Sharp decline

Overall, tourism in Northeast India has more than doubled since 2014. Domestic

Tourist visits increased from approximately 7 million in 2014 to 12.5 million in 2023, while foreign tourist arrivals reached over 221,000 in 2023. Assam contributes the highest share of tourism revenue, followed by Meghalaya and Tripura. Mizoram and Nagaland show growing potential, while Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur continue to record relatively lower revenues due to limited tourist footfall.


E-Buses in Promoting Tourism

The introduction of electric buses under the Purvodaya Scheme plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable and green tourism. E-buses provide clean, comfortable, and

affordable transport, improving connectivity to tourist destinations. They reduce carbon emissions, protect environmentally sensitive regions, and align with ecotourism.


policies. Moreover, cities adopting e-buses are perceived as modern, smart, and sustainable, which enhances their attractiveness to both domestic and international tourists.

 

The Purvodaya Scheme, supported by infrastructure development and sustainable mobility solutions such as e-buses, has significant potential to transform.

Tourism in Eastern and Northeastern India. With proper implementation, the region can emerge as a major hub for cultural, religious, and eco-tourism, contributing

substantially to economic growth and regional development.


(Writer is a Mumbai based Finance expert. Views personal.)

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