With a fortnight to go for the first phase of polls, the BJP has unleashed an aggressive campaign keeping Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the centre and seeking votes for installing a 'Modi Government' in Jharkhand too.
Apart from intensive media blitzkrieg, the saffron brigade is in the process of installing at least 1,000 hoardings across the State with suitable slogans under a massive mass outreach campaign. Already several slogans have appeared in the State Capital like Kendra-rajya mein Modi sarkar, roj-roj ke morchey, roj-roj ke bandh, chalo-chalen Modi ke sang, Jharkhand ke badle halat, chalo chalen Modi ke sang etc.
"We are in the process of coining suitable slogans to effectively communicate our ideas to the public as it was done during the lok Sabha elections - Abki bar Modi sarkar," said a BJP strategist. The BJP has also flagged off 81 hi-tech campaign vehicles with messages from Modi, whose campaign schedule is yet to be finalized.
BJP boss Amit Shah, who is scheduled to release the party's election manifesto tomorrow, has already publicly declared that the Assembly elections will be fought under Modi's leadership.
"We are going ahead with our plan and the Chief Minister will be declared only after the elections are over," Jharkhand election co-incharge Bhupender Yadav told The Pioneer. "The CM's choice will also depend on the legislators," added BJP's Jharkhand affairs in-charge T S Rawat.
Refusing to comment on whether the BJP will experiment with a non-tribal Chief Minister this time, Yadav, Rajashthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's trusted lieutenant and Rajya Sabha MP, said that in other States too, the BJP had taken a call on the Chief Minister only after the elections were over.
Yadav said we will seek the electorate to install a BJP Government in Jharkhand on the ground that the same party Government at both the Centre as well as in the State will ensure better coordination for the development. "The party will strive for development with justice for all sections of society. We are committed to conserve the cultural identity of every section. We will have an inclusive development model."
Refusing to spell out anything extra for the tribals, Yadav said Prime Minister Modi has already reiterated his commitment to make Jharkhand a developed State. "It was the NDA Government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which had created Jharkhand and also a separate department for the welfare of tribals," he pointed out.
Yadav said that the JMM-Congress-RJD combine has lost its relevance in the State. "The people are fed up with the one-year misrule of the combine, which only created anarchy and indulged in corrupt practices. It has failed on every front," he added.
Defending partnership with the AJSU and lJP, he said that the alliance was sewed up after proper consultation with the workers and also individual suggestions. "The BJP has joined hands with all such parties which are committed to good governance and positive politics for achieving a two-third majority," he maintained.
The BJP is fighting 72 out of 81 seats and spared eight for AJSU and one for Ram Vilas Paswan's lJP. He said that no party was in a position to challenge the BJP. "All will be left way behind and the BJP will form a strong Government with a two-third majority," he signed off.