AgenciesThe BJP in Gujarat is intensifying its reach to small focus groups, with Tehsil-specific bike rallies, local sabhas and a more aggressive presence on the social media, to offset any anti-incumbency sentiment after being in power for about two-and-a-half decades.
The immediate challenges, according to senior BJP functionaries, are to lay the ground right for possible aftereffects of ticket distribution and prepare the party and its cadre for a quick month-long campaign to counter the weight of local Congress leaders in 40-50 seats where they can "punch above their party weight".
While also working towards blunting the campaign by the Aam Aadmi Party, BJP leaders said bipolar contests had always been more challenging for the party, and that the Congress fighting with more rigour, with the AAP also in the fray, might actually help it this time.
"In 2012, with Keshubhai (Patel) and Congress, it helped the BJP although there was some dent. In 2017 because it became completely bipolar (between the BJP and Congress), the party suffered," a senior functionary said. "The Congress party symbol may not have the same strength like it did last time, but there are local leaders who have won elections for years and it's a challenge to counter them."
A special focus is on bridging the rural-urban divide - the BJP had won almost half its seats in Gujarat from the four cities of Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara in 2017. Other activities include outreach to new voters, more work in Saurashtra, extensive feedback gathering, usage of catchy slogans on the lines of "Bharosa ni Bhajap Sarkar", and attractive wall paintings, as the party waits for the announcement of polls that is expected in the first week of November.
Home minister Amit shah has held four meetings in the past few days in the state, which party insiders said were to refine the election management strategy for every seat. The party has formed a committee of 252 "nirikshaks (invigilators)" to talk to every potential candidate and prepare an analysis by the month-end.
"Teams of two men and one woman are being sent to districts to make a list of prospective candidates in every seat, listen to them, and submit their findings to the state parliamentary board, before the central board takes a call on the final list," a party functionary said.
The immediate challenges, according to senior BJP functionaries, are to lay the ground right for possible aftereffects of ticket distribution and prepare the party and its cadre for a quick month-long campaign to counter the weight of local Congress leaders in 40-50 seats where they can "punch above their party weight".
While also working towards blunting the campaign by the Aam Aadmi Party, BJP leaders said bipolar contests had always been more challenging for the party, and that the Congress fighting with more rigour, with the AAP also in the fray, might actually help it this time.
"In 2012, with Keshubhai (Patel) and Congress, it helped the BJP although there was some dent. In 2017 because it became completely bipolar (between the BJP and Congress), the party suffered," a senior functionary said. "The Congress party symbol may not have the same strength like it did last time, but there are local leaders who have won elections for years and it's a challenge to counter them."
A special focus is on bridging the rural-urban divide - the BJP had won almost half its seats in Gujarat from the four cities of Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara in 2017. Other activities include outreach to new voters, more work in Saurashtra, extensive feedback gathering, usage of catchy slogans on the lines of "Bharosa ni Bhajap Sarkar", and attractive wall paintings, as the party waits for the announcement of polls that is expected in the first week of November.
Home minister Amit shah has held four meetings in the past few days in the state, which party insiders said were to refine the election management strategy for every seat. The party has formed a committee of 252 "nirikshaks (invigilators)" to talk to every potential candidate and prepare an analysis by the month-end.
"Teams of two men and one woman are being sent to districts to make a list of prospective candidates in every seat, listen to them, and submit their findings to the state parliamentary board, before the central board takes a call on the final list," a party functionary said.
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