With all the North-East units of the BJP unanimously deciding to back Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate, the party’s national president Rajnath Singh on Wednesday kicked off the two-day poll strategy conclave here on Wednesday.
Though it was a close-door meeting, yet it was learnt the party leadership underscored that the BJP’s desire is to see “lotus” bloom in the “land of rising sun” (North-East) in the next parliamentary election.
“The symbol of North-East where the sun rises first in the country has been emphasised to bring home the point that the BJP is keenly looking forward to the region to make the party flourish in the lok Sabha polls,” a senior BJP leader, who was present in the meeting, said.
One of the members of the BJP’s North-East poll committee and former lok Sabha MP, Kiren Rijiju said that the meeting discussed the poll strategies with all the Northeastern States’ BJP presidents and organising secretary so that the party win maximum of the seats.
“There are 24 seats in North-East including Sikkim. We discussed strategies on how to bring maximum of the 24 seats under BJP’s fold. Today we discussed on common strategies for the entire region. State-wise strategies will also be worked out during and after the meeting,” Rijiju informed.
Accusing the Congress of spreading misconception about the party after Modi was nominated as PM candidate, Rijiju asserted that the BJP’s agenda is development and the Gujarat CM has emerged as the most popular leader in the country.
“The Congress is worried about Modi because he is the person who can deliver the benefits of development to the people. That is why the Congress has started spreading baseless allegation against our party and Modi. I want to ask the Congress to compare the condition of Muslims in Assam and Gujarat. Muslims in Gujarat under Modi is far ahead in terms of development than their counterparts in Assam,” he added.
Party leaders also said North-East is one of the “high-priority” regions for the BJP both for its strategic locations and also to make the party’s toe-hold.