Amit Shah delivers pep-talk to cheer up Gujarat BJP workers ahead of 2017 polls

GANDHINAGAR: BJP president Amit Shah today urged the party workers to pull up their socks for the next year's Gujarat Assembly polls, saying the outcome of the polls would be the base for party's win in the general elections of 2019.

BJP is facing a tough challenge in Gujarat after being in power for almost two decades, in the face of Patidar quota agitation and the recent Una Dalit atrocity incident. Earlier this month it replaced the Chief Minister Anandiben Patel with Vijay Rupani, considered to be a Shah loyalist.

In a pep-talk to the state BJP workers here, Shah asked them to get their act together as there wasn't much time.

"BJP received absolute majority in Lok Sabha under (Narendra) Modi's leadership. The way his government is working...there is no doubt it will be in power for a very long time. I can see this written on the wall," he said.

"Prepare yourself for the 2017 Assembly polls. You must have confidence in your mind that just like Gujarat got the credit for BJP's win 2014 general elections, we will prepare the base for 2019 by making BJP victorious here in 2017.

"I urge you to have faith in party leadership, as they are ready to take on any challenge. You just need to have faith in leaders and give your best, as we don't have much time. I urge you to put your trust in whatever party decides. You need to just work on whatever plan party finalises for the polls," he said.