New Delhi: Upbeat over its performance in the recently concluded local bodies elections in Odisha, the BJP’s two-day-long national executive from April 15 in Bhubaneshwar will see party leadership strategising for further expanding organisational base, especially in regions where party’s performance in the last Lok Sabha and Assembly elections had been dismal. The BJP leadership could also deliberate and work towards preparing a road-map for the 2019 electoral battle. PM Narendra Modi will be felicitating members of 16 families associated with the Paika rebellion of 1817 during the meet and party leaders feels it will boost the party’s image. Paika rebellion is considered as the first armed mutiny against the colonial rule in the state.
Odisha is one of the key states under BJP chief Amit Shah’s radar, along with the southern and Northeast states, where he wants party’s dominant presence. Incidentally, Mr Shah has enrolled himself as a party member from the state.
The event is also perceived by many as saffron party’s show of strength in the state, where it had shared power as a junior partner of the BJD, before the latter snapped ties in 2009.
The BJP leadership will also use the event to thank the cadre for giving a tough fight to the ruling BJD and helping the saffron party emerge as the second largest outfit in the state and also enthuse them for the coming electoral battle. Assembly elections in the state take place along with the general elections.
“We want to increase our numbers from these states,” Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is a key party leader from Odisha, said.
The BJP has been traditionally weak in Odisha but it has emerged stronger following the local body polls by bagging over 33 per cent of votes, pushing the Congress to the third position. Party leadership believes that the meeting in the state will have an impact in neighbouring states like West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, the two other big states where it has fared poorly in elections.
Odisha sends 21 members to the Lok Sabha with the ruling BJD having 20 and the BJP one member in the current House.
