NEW DELHI: Stepping up the campaign in Madhya Pradesh, Union home minister Amit Shah is likely to visit the state every fortnight. Speaking in Bhopal late on Tuesday night, the home minister made it clear that there will be no change of guard before the elections and exhorted the various party factions to bury the hatchet and “work unitedly”. After a simmering rift within the BJP, a section of state and Central leaders were subtly mounting pressure on the high command for a change in the state leadership before the elections, sources revealed.
Interestingly, while the state BJP projected a possible victory in the Assembly polls, a rival camp comprising some state and Central leaders have been indicating a “total rout” of the BJP during forthcoming polls at the end of the year.
It was learnt that the home minister wanted the factions to “iron out their differences” and show a “united face”.
Intensifying the campaign, the BJP is expected to kick-start the “Vijaysankalp Yatra” across the state once again. All the district unit and state functionaries have been asked to get “regular feedback” of all the 230 constituencies from booth level onwards. The reports and feedback are to be discussed and analysed by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan along with top Central leaders, including the home minister. An all-out effort is now being made to remove any “grievances” among the party workers, particularly those at the grassroots level, the sources said. As per the BJP strategy, the state has been divided into seven regions, which include Neemar, Malwah, Gwalior, Chambal, Bundelkhand, Vindhya and Mahakaushal. The seven regions would be monitored by seven senior party leaders.
While the BJP has been traditionally strong in Bundelkhand, the Congress has been overtly active in the region this time. The party’s chief ministerial face, Kamal Nath, is seeking reports on the BJP’s weaknesses in Bundelkhand. However, to maintain and consolidate its grip in Bundelkhand, which has nearly 26 Assembly seats, Chouhan has unfurled a series of development projects among the steps taken for the welfare of the tribals.
The proposed “Vijay Sankalp Yatra” will be used to highlight the achievements of both the state and Central governments. The yatra will also project the many achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The sources revealed the yatra was also being planned with an eye on the 2024 general election.
