Jittery BJP gears up to fight AAP effect in Bangalore

Bangalore: Jolted by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s spectacular debut in elections to the Legislative Assembly in New Delhi, leaders of the city unit of BJP on Thursday advised their partymen to check the impact of AAP by enrolling more young voters ahead of next year’s elections to Lok Sabha.

Addressing a meeting of the executive committee of Bangalore city unit here on Thursday, city unit president Subbanna said the AAP would field its candidate in all three Lok Sabha seats in Bangalore.

Therefore, the party workers should prevent the growth of that party ahead of the elections in view of the fact that AAP candidates would set their sights on urban middle class voters, so far considered the vote bank of BJP. The party workers should set out right away to rope in at least 100 new voters in each ward, he added.

“We have to go door to door and campaign from January 15 to 30 in BBMP limits. But I suggest that you (workers) start door to door campaign immediately without waiting for the scheduled date. To prevent AAP from entering Bangalore, party workers should start door to door campaign”, he added.

Sources in the party told Deccan Chronicle that the state unit was worried following the success of AAP in Delhi.

Large section of middle class voters has backed the AAP much to the chagrin of BJP leaders who bank on these voters.

New voters are going to play a major role in Lok Sabha elections, so party should give more emphasise to register new voters in the city, the sources added.

Former deputy Chief Minister R.Ashok said the BJP’s victory in four northern states has boosted the morale of party workers ahead of Lok Sabha elections. The party would win at least 20 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, he added.

At the meeting, the city unit urged the state government to provide protection to women in the city. 

The leaders threatened to organise a protest rally in the near future if government failed to maintain law and order.