With the untimely and tragic death of Pramod Mahajan, if the Bharatiya Janata Party has lost one of its master strategists, the party's state unit in Assam has lost its guardian.
For about nine months before the recent Assam assembly election, Mahajan who was put in charge of the electioneering in the state, tried everything possible to make the state party unit as vibrant as possible.
"He was like a father figure to us. He gave a new direction and new dimension to the Assam unit of the BJP, which has emerged as a strong force in Assam politics. He was deeply involved in planning the party's election strategy in the state. Today, we are certain about much better performance by the party in the Assam election only because of the strategy adopted by Mahajan," said Assam BJP president and Rajya Sabha member of Parliament Indramoni Bora.
Right from orchestrating an sms campaign against illegal migrants from Bangladesh, to preparing a chargesheet against the ruling Congress in Assam, Mahajan was everywhere in leading the party to polls in the state. He virtually made Assam his second home during the last few months before the election and that went a long way in boosting the morale of the party.
"It was because of Mahajan's planning that the BJP could organise such electrified and aggressive electioneering in Assam during the recent election. The party brought hordes of senior leaders to the state for electioneering. Holding over 190 well-attended election meetings during the last few days of electioneering was not a joke. The credit goes to meticulous planning by Mahajan," said Assam BJP's tea cell leader Kamakhya Prasad Tasha.
"During the last nine months after he was appointed the party's election-in-charge for Assam, Mahajan travelled the length and breadth of the state organising even booth level meetings in different legislative assembly constituencies to strengthen the base of the party before the election. Whenever he was in the state he used to dedicate all his time from 6 am to past midnight to formulating party poll strategy," said state BJP spokesman Dilip Saikia.
"The BJP will hold the key to power in Dispur after the election in Assam," was what Mahajan used to repeat often exuding confidence about a better show by the party in this round of assembly polls.
Mahajan had said, "I have developed a strong affinity to Assam and its people who take election nothing less than a sport unlike other states in the country. I will keep coming to Assam as and when required."
"Mahajan was instrumental in bringing out a chargesheet against the incumbent Congress government in Assam, preparing the party's vision document that was released before election. It was basically his idea to organise the march for change throughout the state in February. At his initiative the party organised a successful rally of women in Guwahati before polls. The dynamic leader was successful in enthusing new life into the Assam BJP converting it to a force to reckon with, as it is today," a senior BJP leader said in Guwahati.
During his stay in Assam, Mahajan was attracted to the colourful cultural tradition of the state that is a mosaic of numerous ethnic groups.
"He was very fond of the Assamese Rangali Bihu festival that is celebrated during middle of April. He was fascinated by unique traditional musical instruments associated with Bihu dance and songs. I regret I have failed to fulfill one of his wishes -- he wanted a gagana and a pepa (two kinds of Assamese flute) from me. The cruel stroke of destiny took him away from us before I could send those instruments," the state BJP president said.