The new BJP team on Sunday got into an exercise to fix nuts and bolts of the organisation for the lok Sabha polls. Out of power for two consecutive terms now, the Opposition party has finalised a six-month long programme to reach out to 70 crore voters by creating a synergy between party leaders, workers and electorates.
After Karnataka polls on May 5, the party will launch a Gaon Chalo, Ghar Chalo programme to reach out to every household with the report cards of BJP Governments, both at Centre and in the States, and highlight how inflations and corruptions have plagued the nation under the Congress regime.
In the first meeting of its new office bearers and State presidents here, the BJP leadership decided to restructure the booth committees in every parliamentary constituency. Special focus will be laid on 350 odd seats where the BJP is a powerful force. Women and young workers will form part of these committees and a conference of these booth-level workers will be organised in every lok Sabha segment.
The party has also decided to organise a series of mega
rallies in major cities by the year-end.
Joining the “early national poll” chorus, the BJP also cautioned its leaders against losing the advantage over Congress with “unnecessary controversies” (like that on Prime Ministerial candidate) and by speaking out of turn. At the meeting, party leaders appeared concerned about lack of discipline and organisational weaknesses.
BJP leadership was gaga about the prevalent “anti-Congress” mood across the nation, but its leaders were equally concerned about the urgent need to fine tune the organisation and lift the morale of workers.
Party president Rajnath Singh pointed out that speaking out of turn had become the habit of some leaders. Singh felt some party leaders were announcing PM candidate ‘almost on a daily basis’ and cautioned them from speaking on this issue outside party platform.
“Six States will go to poll this year. Going by the fluid political situation, the lok Sabha elections could be expected any time. We are ready for it. The atmosphere is favourable for the BJP. People are upset with the Congress. Organisational set up at the booth level must be strengthened. No one should speak out of turn and create unnecessary controversies,” Singh said.
In his address, the BJP president laid a lot of emphasis on discipline and organisational matters. He felt a more robust organisation could only meet the electoral challenge.
BJP office-bearers also discussed plans for increasing party membership, future programmes like reaching out to the villages and households, and tailoring the strategy in different regions to meet local challenges.
leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley ruled out the possibility of formation of a Third Front Government. He credited Congress’ performance in Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan for UPA’s return to power. “Now the situation is reversed there and a washout is staring at the Congress,” Jaitley said.
His lok Sabha counterpart Sushma Swaraj said that some of the achievements of the BJP Governments in the States were not publicised well by the party. She specifically mentioned Madhya Pradesh in this regard.
Murli Manohar Joshi spoke on India’s relations with its neighbours, especially China, Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said there is political uncertainty in Pakistan and one will have to wait and see how the on-going elections play out there. He said China is cornering India by increasing its influence in neighbouring countries, including Nepal.