BJP’s national president Amit Shah exuded confidence that his party will emerge as the main political force in Telangana in four years. Shah, who met BJP leadership of Telangana in Hyderabad on Thursday said that the party will expand in every State without affecting its alliance with other partners like Telugu Desam in Andhra Pradesh.
Addressing a Press conference in Hyderabad, Amit Shah dealt with a wide spectrum of the issues like the performance of eight-month-old Narendar Modi Government, controversial subject of religious conversions and BJP’s efforts to grow in the States where it does not have much base at present.
Shah who later left for Vijayawada to meet the top leaders of Andhra Pradesh unit of BJP on Friday said that party’s efforts to grow in the State will not affect the alliance with the ruling TDP.
“We are a separate party. The BJP has a right to expand and we will expand in every State. This will have no impact on alliance,” said Shah while replying to a question. “You will see in four years. BJP will emerge as the main political force in Telangana.”
While the TDP is a part of the BJP led NDA Government at the Center, BJP was sharing power with TDP in Andhra Pradesh. But it is playing the role of an Opposition in Telangana as the ruling TRS was not part of the NDA alliance at the Center.
Shah who arrived in Hyderabad on Wednesday met the core committee members and also addressed the party leaders from all the 10 districts of Telangana.
Shah who is on a nationwide tour to strengthen the part through enrolment of 10 crore member across the nation emphasised on intensifying the membership drive in Telangana. He will have discussions with AP leadership on the same line as the party has set its eyes on capturing power in both the States in 2019.
“We are trying to do it”, he said when asked about the plans to capture power in the two States. When asked whether BJP will have an alliance with the TDP in the next elections in Telangana he said the decision will be taken by the local unit of the party. He kept the possibility of important leaders of other parties in Telangana and AP joining the BJP open.
Pointing out that the party had polled 22 per cent votes in Telangana in the last elections, Shah said that the party was very much strong in the State and will emerge as a big political force.
Replying to a question about the Ram temple issue, he denied that the party had forgotten it. “Even if we have forgotten, you have reminded us”, he quipped to the questioner.
He said that the BJP had not decided to project any leader for the Chief Ministership in Delhi. Amit Shah said that the BJP Government continues to enjoy the support of the people as Modi Government had created a positive atmosphere in the country.
“Our victory in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand and Kashmir shows that people have given a seal of their approval and in a multi-party democracy this is the biggest certification,” he said On the issue of ‘Ghar Wapsi’ or religious conversions, Amit Shah admitted that the statements of some party leaders on the issue damaged the image of the party.
Urging the party leaders to exercise restrain while speaking on the sensitive issue, Amit Shah said, “When our MlAs or MPs gives such kind of statements, it damages the image of BJP.” However, he advocates a strong and comprehensive law to stop forcible conversions. Amit Shah rued that not a single secular party had come forward to support the Government’s suggestion in Parliament for an anti-conversion law.
He refused to comment on the statement of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Miuslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi on ‘Ghar Wapsi’. On the appeal of BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj to Hindu women to bear four children, Amit Shah said that such statements do not reflect the thinking of the BJP. “They will not have any impact on the development agenda of the Government”, he said.
“It was his individual statement. BJP doesn’t agree with it,” he said. “Sakshi Maharaj is for media”, he said.