BJP's top brass to converge in UP for assembly poll

Lucknow, Mar 7 (UNI) Sparing no effort to regain power in Uttar Pradesh, BJP has planned a massive 'never before' election campaign, which would see almost the party's entire top brass in action in the seven-phase state assmebly poll starting April 7.

Several national leaders including M Venkaiah Naidu, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Arun Jaitely would camp in UP to ensure BJP romp home in this Hindi heartland, a far cry from its dismal showing last time.

''The political circumstances are tilted heavily in the favour of BJP, which is all set to ascend to power under the leadership of senior party leader and CM candidate Kalyan Singh,'' Mr Naidu, who has been designated as the national campaign coordinator by BJP president Rajnath Singh, told reporters here.

All senior leaders, including Rajnath Singh himself, would devote considerable time in UP to coordinate with other leaders like Kalraj Mishra, Vinay Katiyar and state leaders to ensure the party's feat in Uttarakhand and Punjab is repeated here, the senior BJP leader said.

''We all are of the view that the outcome of 403-member UP assembly poll would have its bearing on the national politics, especially in view of brewing resentment against the UPA government at the centre. Hence, no stone would be left unturned for the poll success in the biggest state of the country,'' Mr Naidu asserted.

He was here to discuss various poll-related issues with the state leaders, party's starategy, campaign design and candidate selections. The BJP would draft its election manifesto by March 12 after the assembly candidates are announced by the central election committee by March 11.

Siginificantly, Mr Naidu disclosed efforts were on to declare names of all the candidates in one go, the candidates may find sufficient time to spend their respective constituencies.

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