The Hindu : National : BJP to profile Lok Sabha constituencies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 30, 2007
ePaper

National

National

BJP to profile Lok Sabha constituencies

Neena Vyas

Lists of region and constituency-specific problems to be made
Ideas for mass mobilisation discussed

NEW DELHI: Fresh from its electoral victories in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to plunge headlong into preparations for the Lok Sabha poll due in May 2009.

At an informal meeting here on Saturday at the residence of Leader of the Opposition, L.K. Advani, who is also the party’s prime minister-in-waiting, it was decided that the party should immediately begin a systematic study of the social and political profile of each of the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies. Lists of region and constituency-specific problems are also to be made to complement the issues that the party hopes to raise at the national level.

The meeting was attended by BJP president Rajnath Singh, the former party president, Venkaiah Naidu, some general secretaries, and some “intellectuals” considered close to Mr. Advani such as Sudheendra Kulkarni and Rajya Sabha member and Pioneer Editor Chandan Mitra.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a visit here and had called on the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was also present at the meeting, but not all chief ministers of BJP-ruled States were invited just as all party general secretaries were not.

At an earlier National Executive Committee meeting of the party, Mr. Rajnath Singh had already initiated a programme to ensure presence of the party at every polling booth in the country. That programme was also geared towards preparing for the next Lok Sabha poll.

The first task the meeting identified was profiling of each Lok Sabha constituency separately. This study would include a political profile study in terms of votes polled by different parties over the year, a social profile listing the communist and caste composition of the electorate, and specific problems in the constituency in relation to employment, industry, agriculture, schools, medical facilities, roads, water and electricity.

Besides this, various ideas for mass mobilisation were discussed. Ram Setu is one issue for mass mobilisation, but that is to be carried out by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, with its electoral benefit to be reaped by the BJP.

It was also said that the party would try to complement the national issues it raises to the specific problems in those constituencies.

At the national level, the party’s plank, as of now, includes price rise, farmers’ issues and internal security issues that cover terrorism. Naturally, as the main Opposition party the BJP will also try to pick holes in any claims of good performance the United Progressive Alliance makes.

The assassination of Pakistan People’s Party leader Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan was also used by a senior BJP leader to attack the UPA for maintaining silence on happenings in India’s neighbourhood.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National