Change of tactic by BJP in Bihar? Focus more on state leaders

New Delhi, Oct 16: In an apparent change of tactic midway through the Bihar assembly polls, BJP has turned the focus more on its state leaders and allies than its central leadership and decided to focus on a positive message of stability and development in its campaign.

A large number of posters has come up in the state having photographs of its state leaders like Sushil Modi, Nand Kishore Yadav, Giriraj Singh and Rajiv Pratap Rudy among others after it had earlier swamped Bihar with hoardings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah, pushing local leaders into background.

Sources said it has been a considered decision to focus more on the positive message of stability, peace and development which a BJP-led NDA government will usher in after it relentlessly attacked the grand alliance over a host of issues including 'jungle raaj'.

With 162 constituencies still to go to polls after the second phase of elections ended today, party strategiests believe that there was a need to make their message more positive and aspirational.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told a press conference that the people of Bihar, especially the yough, were looking for a better future which he claimed only BJP-led NDA government can provide.

"Only NDA can give peace, stability and development," he claimed, adding that people wanted a government that gelled with the Centre and not a confrontational dispensation as has been the case with Bihar since 1998 when rival political alliances have ruled in the state and Delhi.

He, however, rejected suggestions that the party had decided to focus more on local leaders, saying their photographs were highlighted in 'parivartan raths' launched by the party. Opposition leaders have claimed that some rallies of Modi have been cancelled because BJP was finding the going tough in the state and wanted to deflet attention from him, a charge flatly rejected by the party.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has repeatedly highlighted "Bihari or bahri (outsider)" phrase in his speeches, referring to intensive campaigning being done by Modi as well as Shah.

PTI