2014 BJP campaign meet: Modi to focus on youth and minority vote bank

New Delhi, Aug 18: To make "Mission 272+" for Lok Sabha polls a success, BJP's top leadership today asked its state units to strengthen the organisation from the booth-level, and reach out to prospective voters from all segments and age-groups.

In a meeting of the Central leadership with the state unit president and organisation general secretaries held here today, BJP Election Campaign Committee Chief Narendra Modi and party president Rajnath Singh said the mood in the country is strongly against Congress and the main opposition is the only viable alternative.

"Modi spoke on how the BJP campaign in the run-up to the elections should be conducted. He emphasised on how it is important to bring the voter to the polling booth and said the party workers should meet this challenge. He also said there is a need to strengthen the support base and increase it further," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

Modi also underscored the need for tapping the young and first time voters who, he said, are restless for a change.

The 20 sub-committees formed by the party have been asked to become more active. "Modi asked the committees to do in-depth and comprehensive planning," Javadekar said.

The conclave will also discuss how to make the planned rallies a success, strengthening of booth committees, and door to door and village to village campaigns.

"Rajnath Singh gave a call to make 'Mission 272+' for Lok Sabha elections a success. He criticised the Congress for failing to check price rise, falling Rupee and increasing unemployment. He said the government is now going for capital control which is a regressive step and shows a 1980s mindset," Javadekar said.

The BJP President also hit out at the UPA government on the issue of security.

"He charged that the Congress has failed to provide economic, internal and external security and is only concerned about its own security," Javadekar said, quoting Singh.

Rajnath said in his address at the BJP campaign committee meet that Congress-led UPA government has not dealt with Pakistan in a befitting manner.

"There have been 18 ceasefire violations in the last 10 days by Pakistan. It is giving covering fire to infiltrators, and helping separatists and terrorists. Unless Pakistan gives an assurance that it will not sponsor terror activities and abjures firing at the border there should be no talks," Javadekar said, quoting the BJP President.

Modi also said the party needs to implement its plans effectively in the coming 200 days. Constituency congregations and reaching out to the people was emphasised by him.

The meeting is also giving special attention to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Delhi where the party has stakes in the forthcoming Assembly elections. The state unit presidents of these states presented their report cards of the work done and the progress made so far.

BJP sources said election campaign committees for these states are likely to be announced soon.

Changes in the Delhi BJP set up are also likely with murmurs that Harshvardhan may be made the election campaign committee chief and the face of the party in the polls. This change, if effected, is aimed at clipping the wings of Delhi unit chief Vijay Goel. Several top party leaders are unhappy with his functioning.

PTI