Telangana: BJP rolls out booth domination model

HYDERABAD: BJP's Telangana unit is expanding its grassroots outreach by appointing booth-rung presidents -fundamental functionaries of a well-oiled organisational machinery of the saffron political outfit - to replicate the successful electoral models of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.
The blueprint, which is part of BJP leadership's 'Mission South' plan, envisages selection of booth-level chiefs for 34,000 booths across the state, of which 28,000 appointments have already been made over two months.State BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar is overseeing mobilisation of grassroots cadre and has been regularly holding teleconference meetings.
He revamped booth-level committees, which were earlier stashed with family members of local leaders with little electoral experience. Now, booth presidents have now been told to appoint seasoned, entrenched cadres, unlike in the past.
"When grassroots leaders are given a dedicated team of their choice, they feel empowered and take up more responsibility and can be assigned critical tasks," said Bandi Sanjay.
With booth-rung appointments picking up pace, cadres proved their mettle by successfully hosting the recent Vijaya Sankalpa Sabha addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad. Also, Bandi's hotline with them keeps them alert and motivated, said a party source.
During the National Executive Committee meeting, the party brass also directed state leaders to focus on polling booth in-charges and expand WhatsApp groups.
To feel the grassroots pulse, state party asked booth-rung netas to mobilise collections of Rs 1,000 as 'digital donation'. And donations have begun trickling in from nearly 20,000 booth committees, which comprise 20 people each.
Booths are classified as A, B, or C, based on number of committee members and their involvement. Incidentally, TRS and TDP in unified Andhra Pradesh were known for their strong booth-level presence.