Asserting that there is a pro-BJP wave in the state and country, the party’s state chief B Y Vijayendra on Wednesday called on cadres to work unitedly for its victory in the Lok Sabha polls, and not take the opposition lightly at a time when the Congress is ruling the state.

He was speaking at the first meeting of the state unit’s new office bearers at the party office here. “In every election, there are different types of challenges. We must not take our opponents lightly, if we are to successfully meet those challenges,” Vijayendra said, pointing out that the Congress is in government in Karnataka.

He requested party members to ensure that the pro-people programmes of the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi reach the people. Vijayendra, who was appointed as the state BJP chief on November 10, had appointed new office bearers to the party on December 23.

Highlighting the achievements and programmes of the Modi government, the BJP state president said that party workers should help take central government schemes to the doorsteps of the people. He said that every election, right from the zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat elections and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls as well as the legislative council elections should be taken seriously and “we should step forward to give strength to our party workers”.

Noting that this responsibility has come at a very important time, he further said, “We should all be responsible and perform our duty. What is most important for us is the time at which we have got this responsibility.”

The BJP and JD(S) will fight the Lok Sabha elections together and the goal is to win all 28 seats in the state, Vijayendra said. Calling the ruling Congress “power drunk”, he said, “Along with giving a suitable answer to the Congress party, we have to work towards strengthening Narendra Modi’s hands... We have to send a message that Karnataka is not just a BJP stronghold in South India, it is also a secure fort.” Suggesting that the challenge before BJP workers is not a big one, Vijayendra said there is a pro-Modi atmosphere in the country and state, and he is also very popular.