2019 Lok Sabha polls: Eyeing 2014 Repeat, BJP charts Gujarat drive

GANDHINAGAR: To score a perfect ten is difficult; to repeat the feat is near impossible. But when it is the home ground of the Prime Minister, it becomes a matter of prestige for the ruling party. The BJP is under pressure in Gujarat to repeat its 26 out of 26 score in the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, more so after the unimpressive performance in the Hindi heartland in the recent assembly polls. And, the pressure is showing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended two events in Gujarat last week while the party president, Amit Shah, met Hindu saints and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in Rajkot. While one of the two events of the Prime Minister was the 53rd conference of police chiefs and thus by definition apolitical, the other was a pure political convention of the BJP’s Mahila Morcha.

But between the two, Modi underlined his campaign contour for 2019 in his own way. Addressing the Mahila Morcha, while he spoke of the various schemes initiated by his government, the PM also urged upon the women to reach out to the voters extensively with a slogan “Mera booth sabse majboot (My booth is the strongest)”, implying the cadres should acquire intimate details of each and every voter in their respective booths and establish a personal rapport with them and create awareness about the government schemes.


In the DGP Conference, the Prime Minister, apart from addressing various issues pertaining to the internal security of the country, “urged the police forces across the country to be vigilant in countering the dark forces of radicalisation, and to engender trust among all communities across the nation”, as read a statement on his website.

“The Prime Minister stressed on the importance of interstate coordination, in tackling crime,” it said. “Touching a note of caution, the Prime Minister noted that caste fault lines are being exploited by divisive elements for short-term gains. He urged the police forces to continue working for the unity and integrity of India. Let us strengthen forces that promote unity, and isolate divisive forces at the grassroots level, he exhorted the gathering.” The statement was also later put up in his twitter handle. Interestingly, cast polarisation has cost the BJP dearly in Gujarat in 2017, with the Patidars and Dalits siding heavily against the party.

Meanwhile, the BJP president met the sadhus and the RSS chief in Rajkot to discuss the Ram Temple issue and has reportedly assured them that the temple would be built in Ayodhya.