Mission Haryana: Will Amit Shah’s magic work for BJP again?

BJP's newly appointed national president has flagged-off party's 'Vijay Sankalp Yatra' in Haryana to formally kick-start party's poll campaign ahead of the crucial assembly elections in the state. With this rally BJP's master strategist would be hoping that the party translates its Lok Sabha polls' success into victory in the state as well.

A confident Amit Shah, who scripted the BJP's remarkable victory in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha polls, kick-started party's assembly poll campaign at Mahendragarh in Haryana to ensure the party, makes a comeback in the state. The yatra will be led by state BJP president Ram Bilas Sharma.

Amit Shah's strategies in UP helped the NDA bag 73 seats on its own and come to power at Centre. The BJP wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi's magic works for the party as it will its first litmus test after coming to Centre.

Reasons for Shah's confidence

The BJP had won seven out of 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state and the BJP chief would be hoping to repeat the same success in the upcoming polls as well. Another reason for Shah's elevated confidence is that the party fared exceptionally well in the Jat dominated areas of neighbouring western UP and Rajasthan. Hence, the party would be heavily banking on its Jat voters who are expected to vote in its favour in the state polls.

Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government in the state is facing major credibility crisis as it is facing internal rift and big names deserting the party. With most of these former Congress leaders are joining the BJP, it will definitely be a gain for the party.

As per ABP News-Nielsen pre-poll survey, conducted last week, the BJP emerged as the front runner and has an edge over ruling Congress and other regional parties in Haryana. After winning seven out of ten Lok Sabha seats from the state the party seems to repeating its success in the state polls as well.

The party, for the first time, seems to be heading towards getting a clear majority and forming Government on its own in the upcoming assembly polls in Haryana. As per an ABP News-Nielsen pre-poll survey, the BJP has an edge over ruling Congress and other regional parties in Haryana. After winning seven out of ten Lok Sabha seats from the state the party seems to repeat its success in the state polls as well. The pre-poll survey had predicted giving 46 seats to the BJP and 10 seats to its present ally Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC).

The BJP would also have an upper hand even if it severed its three-year-old alliance with the HJC.

Over the next 11 days, BJP's Vijay Sankalp Yatra will cover areas such as Gurgaon, Mewat, Faridabad, Rewari and Palwal. With this yatra, Shah aims to ‘expose' Bhupinder Singh Hooda government on several issues including corruption and nepotism in government jobs.

Narendra Modi government's tough stand over WTO deal which it projected as not in favour of Indian farmers. The BJP would make full use of it to woo the farmers in Haryana.

Challenges for Amit Shah

The BJP, having a master strategist like Amit Shah and a Prime Minister Narendra Modi, being its face, is better placed in Haryana as compared to other political parties. But, the party faces a tough problem though.

The party needs to tread its path cautiously and must not take its opponents (Congress, INLD) lightly.

The party lacks a strong leadership in Haryana to represent it on state level. The party's thumping win in the general elections was due to the Narendra Modi and it will have to once again depend on its poster boy and master strategist to script yet another history. Shah still needs to find a strong face from the state to project as the next Chief Minister.

But, road to Haryana Assembly is not a cake walk for the BJP but Shah with his political acumen has proved his potential to turn the tides into BJP's favour. Hence, it will be interesting to see how Modi-Shah's magic works for the party in Haryana as well.