BJP president Amit Shah has asked the party leaders to engage in an aggressive “word of mouth” campaign to focus the Modi Government’s “pro-poor and pro-farmer” policies and not be deterred by “negative media reports” as they gear up to face key Assembly polls, starting from Bihar in September-October.
Shah asked them not to be deterred by critical reports and instead enthsiastically highlight the numerous pro-poor works of the Government, the party sources said.
He gave these directives during a meeting of the party’s office-bearers on Friday. It was the first such exercise after the National Executive meeting at Bangalore in April this year.
BJP national secretary and in-charge of Himachal Pradesh Shrikant Sharma here on Saturday said, “Shah spoke about 24 key initiatives taken by the Central Government in the first 12 months of its tenure and how they were aimed at the welfare of the poor and farmers”.
The Government policies highlighted by the party chief included Jan Dhan bank account, insurance and pension schemes for the poor and Pradhan Mantri Sinchai Yojna for the farmers.
He also asked leaders to point out how the Government relaxed criteria to pay damages to farmers and fought for their rights at the WTO. Digital India, Make in India and Skill India campaigns also found a mention.
“He told us to engage in a robust word of mouth campaign by reaching out to people during Sampark Abhiyan. He said we should not be swayed by negative media reports and instead highlight the good works of the Centre as well as the States ruled by us,” sources said.
BJP also highlighted the formation of an ‘OBC Morcha’ at the meeting and said it was an important initiative to reach out to a community which plays a crucial role in the politics.
The BJP has been courting OBC community constituting anywhere between 40 to 50 per cent of population, in poll-bound Bihar. They have traditionally backed regional leaders like lalu Prasad, Nitish Kumar and Mulayam Singh Yadav but the BJP has succeeded in winning over a section of them over the years.
Elections are also due in West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu next year, and Uttar Pradesh in early 2017, among the big states. OBC Morcha, for the first time, is an important step by the BJP President to expand the base of the party across several intermediary backward castes, a party statement said.
Shah nominated former MP and a prominent leader from Uttar Pradesh, Professor SP Baghel as the president of the OBC Morcha while former MP Sudha Yadav appointed as its in-charge.
“The BJP has taken an important decision taking into account of the role of the downtrodden backward category. There is a great participation of the OBC community in Indian society at present. Moreover, this class represents its significant role in the country’s socio-political and economic spheres,” the BJP said in its statement.