The Hindu : National : Multi-pronged strategy comes in handy for BJP

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National

Multi-pronged strategy comes in handy for BJP

Special Correspondent

With two members in 1985, it has grown by leaps and bounds

Projection of chief ministerial candidate helps the Bharatiya Janata Party
Comprehensive development of Karnataka is my sole agenda: Yeddyurappa

BANGALORE: From a party of just two members in 1985, the Bharatiya Janata Party has now reached a position where it has staked its claim to form a government in Karnataka.

The party has grown steadily winning four seats in 1989, 40 in 1994, 44 in 1999, 79 in 2004 and 110 now.

Its impressive performance can be attributed to a combination of strategies it adopted before the polls. First, it decided to project B.S. Yeddyurappa, who is from the dominant Lingayat community, as its chief ministerial candidate.

‘Betrayed’

The strategy was aimed at attracting the Lingayat votes and generating sympathy for Mr. Yeddyurappa who was “betrayed” by the Janata Dal (Secular). This has helped it reap rich dividends as its performance in the Lingayat-dominated areas shows.

The party’s poll strategists restructured the campaign agenda for each region. In cities such as Bangalore, where Mr. Yeddyurappa’s political influence is not significant, the party focussed on stability, terrorism, price rise, and poor infrastructure to reach out to the urban middle class. This worked as the party managed to win 17 of the 28 seats in Bangalore.

Focus on terrorism

What provided ammunition to the party’s campaign in the third phase of polls was the terrorist attack in Jaipur, the bomb blast in Hubli and the arrest of a terror suspect from Belgaum. The party intensified its campaign in this region with focus on terrorism. This seemed to have worked, as the party has won 43 seats in this region against 31 it got in 2004.

The Janajagruti Yatre, launched soon after the JD(S) withdrew from the ruling coalition, also played an important role in reaching out to the people, BJP leaders say. The party leaders toured about 120 constituencies where it had the potential to win over many phases.

Candidates selection

The party also gained advantage by its early announcement of candidates’ list. The BJP candidates were already into campaign mode when other parties had not even announced their candidates.

The party leaders claim that the formation of 33,000 booth-level committees also played a crucial role.

Addressing journalists after the declaration of the election results, Mr. Yeddyurappa said “comprehensive development of Karnataka” would be his sole agenda now.

Assuring the people of measures to check migration from rural areas, the BJP leader said he would initiate measures to locate business process outsourcing units in rural areas.

Yeddyurappa’s promise

His other promises include tackling unemployment, protecting the land, water and language of the State and preventing it being a hideout of terrorists.

He promised to take steps for removing regional imbalance and providing a boost to the industrial sector by setting up special industrial zones.

The party would make Bangalore a city of global standards by upgrading its infrastructure.

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