#Roadto2019: PM Modi to touch 20 states in 100-day campaign
Having suffered electoral defeats in three Hindi heartland states, the BJP is planning to bounce back with a focused strategy and fresh alliances ahead of the 2019 general elections. The push will be spearheaded by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will visit 20 states over the next 100 days to deliver speeches to garner support and mobilize BJP workers. Here's more.
The BJP has revived its 'Mission 123'
In its bid to bounce back, the BJP has also revived 'Mission 123'. Under the mission, the BJP is looking to win the 123 seats it had contested but lost in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, when it won an outstanding 282 seats riding the Modi wave. The saffron party has divided these 123 seats into 25 clusters, with each cluster under one leader.
BJP is particularly eyeing Odisha, Assam, and West Bengal
Under the mission, the states of West Bengal, Assam, and Odisha will be key areas of focus as the BJP just holds 10 Lok Sabha seats from the total 77 these states account for. Over the last couple of weeks, PM Modi has already visited Odisha and Assam to inaugurate educational and infrastructural projects. In January, he is slated to hold several rallies in Odisha and Assam.
BJP has created specialized fronts to focus on particular groups
Meanwhile, the BJP has also created specialized fronts that have been given the task of reaching out to specific groups of voters like women, Scheduled Castes, the youth etc. While all these fronts will be holding conventions till March to streamline their outreach programs, the BJP has already chalked out certain campaigns to be undertaken to reach out to particular groups.
What we know about the BJP's 'Nation With NaMo' program
In January, the saffron party will launch its 'Nation With NaMo' volunteer program aimed at winning the hearts of young voters. Under the program, teams of young voters interested in getting Modi re-elected will be formed. Further, youth icons, entrepreneurs and farmers who have ushered in change in the areas will be identified across India and asked to support PM Modi's re-election bid.
The BJP is also launching its 'Pehla Vote Modi' program
To cash in on the votes of young people, the BJP will also launch its 'Pehla Vote Modi' program in January. Under the program, the saffron party will ask first-time voters to pledge their support to PM Modi and use their first franchise to vote for Modi when the time comes. Town hall gatherings have been planned under the program from January 16-22.
Amit Shah, meanwhile, will handle booth-level strategy
Meanwhile, party chief Amit Shah will work simultaneously on BJP's booth-level plan. Reportedly, the BJP will activate a team on every booth to reach out to over 220 million beneficiaries of government schemes. Shah is slated to wave these efforts off when he addresses 15,000 BJP leaders at the party's national council meeting to be held from January 11-12 in Delhi.
