BJP may not project CM in state polls

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 29

Buoyed by the massive response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Parivartan Rally in Shimla, state BJP leaders are confident that “Modi magic” will work in the Assembly poll.

The tone, tenor and content of Modi’s speech indicated that he would be the visible face of the party in the polls. The party may not project any state leader in the polls like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Uttarakhand.

The leadership issue is no longer rattling the minds of party workers and they are confident to sweep the polls under the leadership of Modi.

Modi did not give any hint about projecting any face in the elections during the rally but singularly focused on “honesty” and emerging “youth power” in the country. The party workers are viewing it as an indication that candidates with clean image and youthful energy will get a chance to enter the electoral arena this time.

The party presented a united face during the rally with all top leaders, including former chief ministers PK Dhumal and Shanta Kumar and Union minister JP Nadda sharing the dais with Modi along with other MPs from the state.

The BJP had set a target to win 50-plus seats in the 68-member Assembly but now its leaders are claiming that even 60-plus target is achievable.

The aspirants for BJP ticket and other senior leaders are “unclear” on the leadership issue and fence sitters are playing safe and not openly siding with any faction. Young and unmarried leaders are in vogue these days, commented a BJP leader in a lighter vein.

The supporters of former chief minister PK Dhumal are upbeat and claim that his elevation was visible during the Prime Minister’s visit and he was given precedence over other leaders, both at Jubbarhatti and the public meeting on The Ridge,

Nadda supporters opined that Modi laid the foundation stone of college in Bilaspur which is Nadda’s home district, however, supporters of both factions maintained that high command would take the decision on leadership.

The BJP is making all-out efforts to cash in on Modi’s visit in the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) polls to be held in May. The party leaders are beaming with confidence that the state capital will have the BJP's control.

The victory in the Bhoranj Assembly byelections boosted the morale of BJP leaders and Modi’s visit had a catalytic effect on the cadres. Now the victory in the SMC polls will be a precursor for the Assembly polls, expected in November and finally the curtain will ring down on Congress regime, senior BJP leader Suresh Bhardwaj said.

60-plus target

• As Modi focused on “honesty” and emerging “youth power” in the country, party workers believe that candidates with clean image will get a chance to enter the electoral arena this time
• The party presented a united face during the rally with all top leaders sharing the dais
• The BJP had set a target to win 50-plus seats in the 68-member Assembly, but now its leaders are claiming that even 60-plus target is achievable