Shah sets ‘360+’ BJP target for ’19

NEW DELHI: The BJP today set the ball rolling for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, fixing an individual target of “at least 360-plus” seats and winning constituencies (around 120 or so) where it had never won or had come second. BJP chief Amit Shah’s strategy meet was attended by ministers and senior leaders of the party.

BJP chief Amit Shah

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 17

The BJP today set the ball rolling for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, fixing an individual target of “at least 360-plus” seats and winning constituencies (around 120 or so) where it had never won or had come second.

BJP chief Amit Shah’s strategy meet was attended by ministers and senior leaders of the party. It focused on ascertaining whether the Modi government’s “pro-people and pro-poor schemes” had impacted the grassroots and whether the issues raised by cadres, especially in the BJP-ruled states, were being addressed or not.

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The party’s “below expected” performance in Madhya Pradesh local bodies’ poll is indicative of the chinks that needed to be taken care of in its “sangathan garhe chalo”campaign. The BJP also did not perform on expected lines in the West Bengal civic body elections.

Though Shah’s three-day visit to MP beginning tomorrow is part of his 110-day nationwide tour, the fact that at some places in the state the BJP defeated the Congress by a narrow margin might be a big perusal point.

Shah’s ambitious aim to increase the BJP tally in 2019 may be an ominous signal for the allies, including Akalis.

In 2014, the BJP contested 428 seats and won 282 — a strike rate of 66 per cent. To reach 360-plus, it might not be as generous towards allies as it was in 2014. Therefore, if not complete separation, allies may have to be content with fewer seats.

In Punjab, where the BJP has two seats out of 13, a section of leaders has for long been clamouring for a separation from the Akalis, professing “good scope” on “at least six to seven” seats.

The leadership is also looking for “good candidates”. Some sitting MPs might be shown the door on the basis of their performance in their constituencies and Parliament, sources said.

While the saffron dominance has been augmented with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar-led JD-U switching sides (which has, in turn, increased the redundancy of NDA ally in Bihar — Ram Vilas Paswan-led LJP), there are areas where the BJP still needs help. This is precisely the reason why down-South, the leadership is working hard at getting together the warring AIADMK factions.