GUWAHATI: High on confidence after the BTC poll results which catapulted it to power in the council in alliance with two regional parties, the BJP has kicked off preparations for the assembly elections, which is barely four months away.
Newly appointed Assam in-charge, Baijayant Panda, reached Guwahati on Wednesday to take stock of party affairs ahead of Amit Shah’s visit next week.
Party sources said, “The Union home minister is expected to visit the state on December 26 and will attend some government functions then. He is also likely hold meetings with state BJP leadership to discuss the preparations for Assam assembly elections.”
Shah’s official itinerary has not been made available but a party source said the home minister is likely to address the chief ministers of the northeastern states, all of which are ruled by the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). It is not clear whether Shah’s meeting with the seven chief ministers will be on a NEDA platform or an official programme.
Shah is also likely to meet the leadership of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) to lay the ground for a seat sharing strategy.
On Wednesday, Panda was accorded a grand welcome by the party workers at Lokpriya Gopinath Borodoloi International Airport. He said, “This is my first visit to Assam as the BJP in-charge. The mission of BJP + to win more than 100 seats is surely going to happen this time. BJP’s position in Assam is extremely strong and we will produce very good results.”
BJP’s only confirmed ally is Asom Gana Parishad as its partnership with BPF had gone sour during the BTC election.
BJP national general secretary, Dilip Saikia, said, “BJP plus means 100 plus and we will achieve this comfortably. Our organizational work in all the 126 seats have already started.”
Panda, on Wednesday, addressed a meeting of BJP workers from grassroots level to state level, including a meeting with chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal. On Thursday, Panda will visit Kamakhya temple and address a farmers’ convention at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra.