The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka will hold a crucial meeting on Monday to strategise and chalk out a ‘winning plan’ for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
In a first for the parliamentary polls, the party will be fighting the election in an alliance with the H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS).
As preparation for the polls, B L Santosh, party national general secretary (organisation), presided over a meeting with top office-bearers of the BJP, including heads of the BJP morchas, in New Delhi on Saturday.
MAKING MODI 3.0 A REALITY
“Modi 3.0 is going to be a reality. Our party, along with our alliance partner, JDS, will deliver a handsome win from Karnataka to help the BJP come back to power in the Centre," said a senior Karnataka BJP leader, adding it would be one of the BJP’s five-point agenda for the crucial strategy meeting in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls.
“Although there will be a lot of discussions and need for sharp strategy and seamless coordination, the BJP will ensure wins in all 28 Lok Sabha seats," the leader added.
BJP-JDS BHAI BHAI
Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader R Ashok has a practical approach to how the BJP looks at the Lok Sabha polls. He believes that the BJP-JDS alliance should be handled with a solid strategy, consensus and a sharp-focused election campaign.
Speaking exclusively to News18 on what is on the agenda for the meeting to be held at the state BJP headquarters, Ashok said getting the BJP and JDS on one platform and agreeing on seat sharing is one of the challenges before them.
“We need to ensure that whatever decisions are arrived at on ticket selection and seat sharing, it would only strengthen the alliance and not bring the other down. The party workers are the soul of every political party. We should ensure they are all onboard and not against each other," he cautioned.
PARAMPARA, PRATISHTHA, ANUSHASAN!
Ashok was pointing out to the dilemma that the Congress and JDS workers were put in during the 2018 Karnataka assembly polls when, after having fought tooth and nail against each other, both parties joined hands to form a coalition government.
The BJP fell short of majority, and the Congress and JDS, in a swift decision, joined hands to form a coalition government under the leadership of JD(S) H D Kumaraswamy. The Congress and JDS party workers had campaigned aggressively against each other only to be forced to work together. Many were unhappy with the decision, and it caused a lot of friction and tension on the ground.
“We can’t afford to have a situation like the Congress and JDS had. We will have to work together as one unit; only then can we ensure a solid win. This is a major challenge," the leader said.
When asked how the BJP plans to sensitise the karyakartas to work with the JDS party workers, a senior BJP leader tasked with working with the yuva morchas replied with a smile – “It is all about parampara, pratishtha, anushaasan," using the famous Amitabh Bachchan dialogue from the Bollywood movie, Mohabbatein.
Met Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and JD(S) leader Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy in the presence of our senior leader and Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji.I am happy that JD(S) has decided to be the part of National Democratic Alliance. We wholeheartedly welcome them in the NDA.… pic.twitter.com/eRDUdCwLJc— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) September 22, 2023
WINNABILITY, POPULARITY AND EFFICIENCY KEY
On ticket selection, the LoP said that a survey is being conducted on the performance of every sitting MP of the BJP, and tickets will be given based on their performance and popularity.
“We are seriously analysing how each of the elected MPs has performed in their term of office. Winnability, popularity and efficiency in implementing schemes are also major factors that are being measured to see if they qualify to get a ticket," the BJP leader told News18.
He added that this would also be on top of the agenda of the meeting.
‘CONGRESS HOODWINKED PEOPLE OF KARNATAKA’
Another point on the meeting agenda would be to highlight the failures of the ruling Congress in the past seven months that they have been in power. The BJP will highlight how the government is focused only on Muslim appeasement, while following the divide and rule policy in administration.
“Where is the development after the Congress came to power? Not only are they bent on appeasing the Muslim community, but they are also treating Hindus as second-class citizens. That is totally unacceptable, and we will expose the Congress and their double-faced attitude. We will highlight every promise they made and show how they have blindsided and hoodwinked people of Karnataka. This will also be on the agenda," Ashok said.
He said Karnataka was reeling under drought and the Siddaramaiah government was unable to give relief to farmers. He said that in line with the Congress’s “false promises,’ the state owes each farmer Rs 30,000-40,000, but has given them only Rs 2,000 as relief.
‘NO LEADER IN CONG WHO CAN CHALLENGE MODI’
The BJP is deriving confidence in the information that there are very few takers from the Congress Rajya Sabha stable for the poll plunge this year. Ashok spoke of how Siddaramaiah was also among those senior Congressmen who did not support AICC national chief Mallikarjun Kharge as the Congress’s PM face.
“Nobody wants Kharge even in their own party. There is no other alternative in the Congress who can challenge Modiji. PM Modi is a success story and there is no leader who can match his stature," Ashok added.
The BJP will cover all 28 Lok Sabha segments and campaign to highlight the decade-long achievements of the Modi government.
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