Will master strategist Amit Shah rewrite LS success in Assembly polls?

BJP general secretary and in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Amit Shah was ratified as party chief in National Council Meet on Saturday. Shah was earlier crowned as the president of the ruling party in a press conference addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former president Rajnath Singh.

This is the first National Council Meet after the BJP-led NDA took charge at the Centre. Senior party leaders from across the country have been taking part in the day-long meeting being held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the national capital.

Shah's elevation in the party has sent a clear message that hard working and disciplined workers can rise in the party hierarchy by virtue of their merits.

Shah scripted history by becoming youngest president of BJP

Though a master strategist, Shah has always been surrounded with controversies, be it his involvement with Ishrat Jehan case or Tulsiram Prajapati case. But, all the controversies never deter him rising above the ranks. Now, he has come a long way from a chief of Gujarat's chess association to BJP president.

Most leaders in the BJP agree that Shah, who was associated with the RSS in his early days, has earned every bit of his success.

Amit Shah synonymous to success

Shah has a track record of successfully managing elections. His managerial acumen helped the party win four successive terms in Gujarat. Not only this, his formidable organisational skills helped BJP to get a massive victory in the Hindi heartland in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls.

Shah's managerial acumen helped BJP win four successive terms in Gujarat.

Shah's political career has been vibrant and eventful. Considered a key strategist and planner for the party, Shah is also credited with taking control of Gujarat's milk co-operatives from the Congress.

When Modi first came to power in December 2002, Amit Shah won by the highest margin of votes, over 1.58 lakh, that was even higher than Modi also. His constituency, Sarkhej elected him again in 2007 by 2.35 lakh votes, beating his previous record.

Shah instrumental in scripting BJP's massive victory in the north

Shah with his extra-ordinary political performance led the BJP to a dream run winning 71 out of the total 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Along with Apna Dal, a new ally which Shah got on board, the party won 73 seats leaving a handful for SP and Congress the politically crucial State. He is said to have worked for almost a year in the State and had strategically laid out the plan for the party.

Shah's organizational skills came in handy for the BJP in bordering Bihar too where the party forged alliances with the LJP and OBC strongman Upinder Kushwaha wrestling 22 seats alone and 31 out of 40 seats with allies.

UP, Bihar and Gujarat put together, Shah's stamp was visible in half of the total number of seats the BJP won in the 16th Lok Sabha elections, driving the party to its best ever performance under the Modi-Shah combine.

A tough road ahead

Shah, who captulated success in the recently concluded Lok Sabha poll has a herculean task ahead to bring BJP in power in four poll bound States. Four crucial States namely Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand and Jammu & Kashmir are going to polls in upcoming months and it is important for the newly appointed party president to carry on with the winning streak of the party. The master strategist is already knitting strategy for the crucial Assembly polls. He is closely monitoring the work from ground zero and meeting with the presidents of four poll bound States to categorise each constituency on the basis of local and other important issues.

Recently, the Maharashtra BJP unit had advocated for Shah to handle the election campaign in the State.

Undoubtedly, the upcoming State elections pose a considerable political challenge for the BJP leaders. Party's recent loss of three seats in Uttarakhand By-polls shows that the road is not so smooth ahead. So, to transcript the win, the newly appointed president understand the importance of a robust party network.

Not only the poll boud States, Shah should give a fresh approach to some other States like Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu where the party is in not-so-good condition. Also, party's organisational bases are in a shambles in the entire eastern India, so it would be a task for Shah to look into that area too.