Lok Sabha polls 2014: BJP men work overtime to bring out voters

VARANASI: Narendra Modi’s mammoth roadshow has fired the enthusiasm of the Bharatiya Janata Party workers in Varanasi and prompted other political parties contesting from the temple town to intensify their own election campaigns for preventing voters from being weaned away by the BJP.

Some of the Saffron party’s important office bearers say, the party workers have become more enthused after the large roadshow and this will help the party intensify its campaign in all of Purvanchal, which has 30 Lok Sabha seats.

"Modi’s roadshow will help the party perform better in all of Purvanchal region. Enthusiasm among party workers has increased further. The turnout really made evident the public support for Modi and the question now remains that of ensuring that this is converted into maximum voter turnout to increase victory margin," said Rakesh Trivedi, vice president of BJP’s Kashi region unit. From all indications, this appears to be a difficult task.

For, party’s election strategists and planners are taking into account Varanasi’s history of poor voting percentage and feel that the possibility of complacency about voting on account of a pro-Modi sentiment cannot be ruled out. To address this issue, the party is planning to have “Panna Pramukhs” (or ‘Page In charges’ ) for ensuring outreach with individual voters at the household level.

Chandrashekhar, General Secretary (Organisation) of the BJP’s Kashi unit informed that the idea is to make individuals take responsibility of canvassing with 15 homes in a given booth. In a single page of any voter list, there are about 50-60 voters’ names recorded. These typically account for 15 homes.

"The Panna Pramukh will go to these homes, talk to the voters and tell them why it is necessary to ensure that they should come out to vote in large numbers. In the past election, the polling percentage was around 50% and the recent Lucknow polls also did not see an impressive turn out, which we would like to change and increase the poll percentage. This is a historic election and voters should play in part in making history," said Chandrashekhar. While the BJP is trying to make history, other key challengers in the electoral fray are being forced to sharpen their outreach with voters for ensuring a dignified contest.