"Yes, we slacked": What Karnataka BJP leaders told Amit Shah

Amit Shah visited Bengaluru as part of his nationwide tour program to strengthen the BJP

Three days, 35 meetings and interaction with close to 6,000 people is how Amit Shah's visit to Bengaluru fared. While the state unit was pulled up for its functioning, senior leaders of the party told OneIndia that the session was much needed to make them realise that they had slacked and let go of multiple opportunities to strengthen the party.

"Padhai likhai hogayi, iska matlab ye nahi ki mehnat nahi karni. Ye mat socho ki sirf unpad ko mehnat karna hai (You studying or being prepared or being in the know of things is no reason for you to slack or not work hard. Do not assume that only someone who isn't prepared should do all the hard work) was Amit Shah's message to BJP leaders.

"This one line of Amit Shah hit us like a bolt. I was startled. BJP leaders do a lot of work but the lack of impact was the real problem. Now that will not repeat. We are not to sit idle or be indifferent. Synergy was required and it will be implemented now," the BJP leader said.

Amit Shah held close to 35 meetings in three days, most of them unscheduled. He met leaders from every section- core committee, newly inducted members including S M Krishna, Dalit leaders, OBC community representatives, political action committee, IT cell workers, BJP youth wing etc. "All sessions were with batches of some 15 or 20 leaders.

Amit Shah interacted with every single person and perhaps even mentally photographed everyone and remembers what they said," another leader who was part of more than four such meetings said.

Karnataka leaders' admission to Amit Shah

Leaders of various sections of the BJP told made presentations will detail of every activity taken up by workers of their wing. Shah offered suggestions to every presentation made. "When he saw that enough was not being done, he asked the chief of each wing and program why there was lapse on the impact front. What we realised is that we had been working in individual capacities but there was no synergy. Because there was a lack of coordination and the will to take an issue to its conclusive end, we failed. Shah highlighted the same," said a senior BJP leader.

Many leaders said that a plan of action was put in place. Now, those in Karnataka are expected to implement the same. "He is someone who won't tell you what exactly needs to be done. He has given us a direction and has told us what the end result should be. It is up to us now to do everything in our capacity to achieve that desired result," said a member of the core committee.

Aftermath of Amit Shah's visit

The BJP National President has already cracked the whip on the Karnataka unit of the BJP. Without wasting any time, the BJP is now alls et to launch its attack on the Congress. State unit chief B S Yeddyurappa said that starting Friday, the BJP will begin a statewide agitation demanding the ouster of D K Shivakumar and other Congress leaders over income tax raids. BJP workers in the city, district and taluk headquarters will protest demanding resignation of Karnataka's energy minister D K Shivakumar.

"The protests will be impactful since all wings, morchas of the BJP will come together to protest. No longer will there be individual attacks and protests," said a BJP Yuva morcha leader. In the next two months, the BJP hopes to turnaround the narrative in Karnataka to a favourable one. Many leaders were of the opinion that Amit Shah's visit was a wakeup call while others opined that it was a shot in the arm.

OneIndia News