BJP’s top brass has advised its leaders not to be bogged down by a counter attack from the Congress and be “aggressive” on media platforms while exposing the ruling party’s misdeeds. The Party leadership insisted that leaders should set the agenda for discussion, instead of just responding to diversionary tactics by the desperate ruling party.
At a day-long workshop for party spokesmen and media managers, BJP’s campaign committee chief Narendra Modi asked them to do proper homework and extensive research before engaging in any debate on different media platform. Modi insisted that the party’s spokesperson should not go to a TV debate with the idea to win the battle of that day and, instead, should focus on putting more facts in the public domain to change the discourse of debate.
The Gujarat Chief Minister cautioned party leader that Congress would attempt to put the blame at BJP’s doorsteps for every mess as campaigning for the national election would progress. “Do not get disheartened. You have done no wrong. It is time for the Congress to answer. Stand up and ask pointed questions to them. Be as aggressive as you can,” Modi told party leaders at the workshop.
Modi insisted that the Congress bag was full of woes and the BJP should bring out them one by one after thorough research and proper homework. “You will bring a marked changed in party’s approach from tomorrow,” BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said after the workshop. leader of the Opposition in lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitley dwelt on the “do’s and don’ts” while handling the media and attacking the political opponents.
Swaraj said party leaders should exercise caution while hitting out at the Congress as “words once spoken cannot be taken back”. She emphasised on the need for the spokespersons and panelists to speak in one voice and maintain decorum while firmly rubbishing arguments of the political adversaries. Swaraj said the Congress should be targeted on issues like corruption, State of the economy and mal-governance, among other issues.
Jaitley also reiterated these issues and also compared the ‘leadership’ void in the Congress against the BJP. He also suggested to party leaders not to jump the gun and go for a TV debate for a subject not familiar to him. “Just because you get a call from a TV channel does not mean you should be there. It needs a lot of effort to undo the damage that party leaders do through ill informed statements,” Jaitley said. BJP chief Rajnath Singh reiterated Jaitley’s concern and asked leaders to sometimes say no to an invitation for a TV debate.