After a gap of seven years, the BJP will hold a two-day National Executive meeting in Bengaluru from January 19.
A senior BJP leader in the State confirmed to The Pioneer that party president Amit Shah might visit Bengaluru on January 3 to discuss with State leaders about the meeting. This will be the first National Executive meeting of the BJP to be held outside New Delhi after the party took over the reins of power at the Centre in May this year. The BJP National Council had met for in New Delhi in August this year to ratify the appointment of its national president Amit Shah.
Karnataka is crucial to the BJP as it has provided first saffron Government in the South led by lingayat strongman BS Yeddyurappa. The party sources confirmed that the meeting will send a major political message to the Congress which is banking on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. According to State BJP president Pralhad Joshi, Amit Shah had indicated to him about holding the National Executive in Bengaluru and was awaiting further instructions. The last time the party held its national conclave in Bengaluru was in September 2008.
Besides Shah, the 245-member National Executive includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Ministers of BJP- ruled States, central office-bearers, special invitees and presidents of the State units of the party, among others. Amit Shah’s visit is expected to get the party geared up for its proposed national office-bearers’ meeting in the city on January 19 and the subsequent National Executive.