BJP Faces Backlash Over Appointment of Over-Aged Town Mandal President in Dhubri
A political controversy has erupted in Dhubri district following the appointment of a new BJP Town Mandal President who exceeds the party’s prescribed age limit, raising questions about policy adherence and organizational discipline.
Bommarabettu Laxmijanardhana Santhosh, the National General Secretary (Organization) of the BJP, had earlier mandated that all Mandal Presidents must be under the age of 45. However, the recently appointed Town Mandal President’s official date of birth—August 2, 1978—places his age at 46 years and over four months, in direct violation of party guidelines.
This decision has triggered internal criticism, especially as State BJP President Bhabesh Kalita had emphasized adherence to these limits, stating that district presidents must be below 60 and Town Mandal Presidents below 45. The appointment, viewed as a breach of these organizational rules, has caused significant unease among party members and supporters.
Critics argue that such lapses undermine the BJP’s credibility. A local political analyst remarked, “Failure to enforce basic internal rules not only reflects poorly on the leadership but also raises serious concerns about the party’s accountability.” The controversy has sparked broader debates about the BJP’s ability to maintain organizational discipline, with questions raised over its internal review processes and adherence to core principles.
The incident has also fueled discontent among grassroots members, some of whom feel that such actions erode public trust and compromise the party’s reputation. Calls for stricter enforcement of guidelines and greater transparency in appointments have grown louder in response to the controversy.
While the central BJP leadership has yet to release an official statement, party insiders indicate that a review of the appointment process may be initiated to prevent similar incidents in the future.
