learning lessons from the last Assembly polls in the State the alerted BJP high command has asked its Gujarat unit to prepare a detailed report on how the party could ensure victory in all 26 lok Sabha seats in the upcoming 2019 lok Sabha elections.
Of the 182 Assembly seats, ruling BJP had won 99 in the 2017 Assembly polls which are less than 16 seats compared to 2012 State elections. Wary over the result senior leaders in the State have already shown their concern in wake of the impending general elections. It would extremely important for the ruling party to win maximum seats from Gujarat to form the Government at the Centre again.
In 2014 lok Sabha polls BJP set a record by winning all 26 seats in Gujarat. No political outfit had achieved the feat in Gujarat before. Even in 1984 lok Sabha polls, Congress could win 24 seats in the State despite massive sympathy wave in favour of Rajiv Gandhi following his mother Indira’s assassination.
“It would be an uphill task for us to repeat 2014 performance. However, things can be changed in coming days as still over eight months to go for the general elections. The State unit is heavily depending on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has capability to turn the tide in BJP’s favour,” says a senior Gujarat BJP leader admitting that as of now the party can’t win more than 16 seats in the State.
Sources in the ruling party said that the party high command sitting in Delhi has sought list of pending development works at taluka and district levels. It has also told to prepare a list of those projects which would be directly impacting people. Besides the high command has also asked the State functionaries to prepare a list of high performing officials, who have ability to implement Government schemes and projects speedily and effectively. Both State Government as well as State party organisation have been asked to submit the report separately before August 2018 end.