BJP prepares roadmap for parliamentary polls in UP

BJP has prepared an elaborate roadmap for the 80 parliamentary seats in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the lok Sabha polls, party leaders said.

Senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday brainstormed in New Delhi on an action plan that they need to create to take maximum advantage of prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's goodwill among the masses.

During the meeting, Uttar Pradesh was divided into eight zones. Public rallies will be addressed by the Gujarat chief minister in all eight zones. The campaign will culminate in a massive rally in the state capital.

Buoyed by the recent success of Modi's public rallies in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana, state BJP leaders have been asked to ensure that crowds at rallies in Uttar Pradesh appear challenging to other parties.

"The meeting under the chairmanship of party president Rajnath Singh has given us direction now. After apprising him with the situation in the state and getting guidance from him and party in-charge Amit Shah, we have to now become electorally strong," said state BJP president laxmikant Bajpayi.

Senior leaders will now consult party cadres and supporters and make a list of prominent people they want as contestants from Uttar Pradesh. Some leaders feel that famous personalities from various fields should be pitched in the state to gain maximum advantage. Party insiders told IANS that there was unanimity that if the Gujarat chief minister contests from Uttar Pradesh, the party's fortunes would definitely become better.

"While this is a matter that the party national leadership needs to take a call on, there is no doubt that there is support for Narendra bhai. If he chooses to contest from Uttar Pradesh, we will touch our past performances of the 1990s," said a senior party leader.

"People are favouring Modi everywhere and Uttar Pradesh is no different. They see him (Modi) as someone who will usher in development and that is a path-breaking phenomenon as far as Uttar Pradesh politics is concerned," said state BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak.