Panel to rein in motormouth netas during debates

New Delhi: In an attempt to improve the party’s image in TV debate, which is sometimes hurt by motormouth leaders, the Delhi BJP has formed a four-member panel ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha polls to pick a spokesperson or leader to be sent to a news channel to defend the party.

A senior party functionary told this newspaper that it was found that sometimes leaders participate in TV debates without preparation or knowing the party line, causing huge embarrassment. To avoid this in future, leaders or spokespersons will not participate in TV debate without the prior knowledge and approval of this newly formed panel. Delhi BJP also directed its leaders to only speak on subjects related to the national capital.

Recently, the party found itself on the backfoot due to lack of preparation or knowledge of subject by leaders defending the BJP in TV debates on several issues. After being pulled up by the BJP central leadership on this issue, the Delhi BJP has formed a four-member panel that will select and assign leaders to participate in TV debates.

This committee consists of three members from Delhi BJP’s media team and state vice-president Rajiv Babbar. In a major development, the Delhi BJP is likely to appoint its spokesperson, Ashok Goel, as the convener of the media department. He is likely to be one of the members of the newly-formed panel.

The party is also approaching the TV channels, asking them to reach out to the panel instead of the Delhi BJP spokespersons and leaders directly for participation in debates.

“Once a TV channel approaches this panel, it will pick and assign a spokesperson or leader for participation in a debate,” he said.

The panel, apart from assigning participants for TV debates, will also provide background material and pointers on the topic of debate to its leaders to strongly defend the BJP.

Delhi BJP spokespersons and leaders have also been advised not to cross the line and stick to the brief or mandate given to them.

Even last year, the BJP’s central media team showed displeasure over the frequent participation of party’s Delhi unit spokespersons in TV debates on national issues. The team had noted that many of Delhi BJP spokespersons participated in TV discussion on national issues without preparation that had caused an embarrassment to the organisation.