The BJP is planning an extensive nationwide road show of its most popular leader Narendra Modi, who is also the party’s campaign committee chief.
The idea behind this event is to capitalise on Modi’s popularity by making him cover maximum parts of the country in less time. But this would be a slight deviation from “Yatra politics”, which Modi’s campaign managers feel has lost its sheen,
of late.
Modi’s aides are also in consultation with different groups to replicate his Gujarat-type 3D campaign on the national level. Called 3D-l, the national campaign would be an “upgraded” and “refined” version of the Gujarat model. Modi’s 3D shows at 53 locations across 26 cities in one go during the Gujarat campaign had made it to the Guinness Book of World Records.
“We have already moved (on these campaign events). We are looking for a suitable name for the road show. It will be different from a yatra in a way as Modi would not address three or four rallies on a daily basis,” sources close to Modi told
The Pioneer.
Extensive thrust is being laid on Uttar Pradesh and Bihar — together making for 120 lok Sabha seats. The schedule of this event will be planned in such a manner that Modi visits every nook and corner of these two States of the Hindi heartland.
The rough sketch of the proposed road show outlines a travel of 150 to 200 km everyday, halt during nights, Sah-Bhoj (community feast) with workers, visiting villages on the route and addressing group of people, if they turn out in large numbers.
“It is becoming quite difficult to make arrangements for one or two rallies every day. With the kind of outreach that 24X7 television has, even the Press prefers not to physically visit the rally venue. So we are not thinking of clubbing rallies with the road show. However, separate rallies would certainly be held,” sources said.
They claimed, with Modi hitting the street, it will create an “atmosphere” in the favour of the BJP and will lift the morale of party cadre.
The party has not taken a call on the timing of this yatra and it would depend upon the “sense” that it will gather during the first ten days of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session and the Prime Minister’s speech on August 15.
“If we feel that UPA could hold early elections then these events would start by September. Else there could be a delay of a month or two,” a BJP leader said.
A Gujarat-based company has already made a presentation to Modi’s aides for the 3D-l campaign. One such presentation was made to senior BJP leaders during the recent Goa conclave of the BJP.
“A final call on these events would be taken once the meeting of the entire campaign committee and sub-panel related to it is held in the first or second week of August,” sources said.
Chairman and members of the sub-panels are being directed to visit States and make arrangements to lift BJP’s campaign at the lower level. A Central War Room, to oversee the entire campaign, would be soon set up in the national Capital. Screening Committees for States are also being set up to suggest leaders on “dos and don’ts” to avoid violation of model code of conduct during elections.