The day after the BJP announced its poll panel plans, the Campaign Committee chief and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi spent his entire day on Saturday analysing the situation of 26 lok Sabha constituencies in his home State.
The Campaign Committee chief remained engaged in a series of meetings at his residence in Gandhinagar. He met presidents, secretaries, in-charge Ministers and other important leaders from various lok Sabha constituencies. Gujarat in-charge OP Mathur, Gujarat BJP president RC Faladu and other senior leaders Parshottam Rupala and Bhikhu Dalasania accompanied him during the meetings.
“Normally such meetings are being conducted one or two months prior to the general elections. However, in anticipation of his hectic schedule in the coming days, Modiji decided to take stock of the situation early to ensure victory in all the 26 lok Sabha seats from Gujarat,” said a senior BJP leader from Saurashtra who attended the meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence.
Apart from review on previous lok Sabha and Assembly elections, constituency-wise BJP’s strengths and weaknesses were discussed. “Other important points like formation of booth committees, arrangements of public meetings, rallies, group meetings, selection of venues and how to improve the BJP position in certain pockets etc were discussed,” said the source, adding that not only Modi but other leaders were seen writing important points and suggestions.
When asked about decision on candidates, the source said that the naming of the candidates was not on the agenda. “The focus was on identifying weaknesses in various constituencies and immediately start work on it. Besides, to maintain strong position in the BJP’s traditional bastions,” he said.
The State BJP doesn’t want to take any chance in the upcoming elections, especially when the BJP’s probable prime ministerial candidate is likely to come from Gujarat. In the last lok Sabha elections in 2009, the BJP was expecting nearly 20 seats but it had to contend with only 15 seats, while the arch-rival Congress won 11 seats. Especially defeat in the Rajkot constituency, considered as the BJP bastion, was real shocker.