BJP's North-East target for 2019 elections: 21 of 25 seats
Sounding the poll bugle for 2019 LS elections, BJP President Amit Shah has set his party's target for the North-East. While addressing a rally of booth-chiefs in Guwahati, Shah asked party-members to work towards securing 21 seats of the region's 25 parliamentary constituencies. Notably, in 2014, the party had won eight seats. The meeting was attended by 26,000 booth presidents and 38 district presidents.
So, how does Shah plan to achieve this feat?
Shah declared that "Except Mizoram, all other states in NE are ruled by NEDA (North-East Democratic Alliance) constituents. So, all of you need to take it forward." He asked the Assam unit to expand its reach and appoint a "Page Pramukh" or an in-charge for electoral list's each page. He said BJP needs to win maximum seats from North-East to ensure the region's development.
Can BJP pull off this 21/25 seats feat?
Shah's target comes on the back of decisive victories in Tripura and Nagaland. By wresting these states, it has already succeeded in breaking the image of being a northern, upper-caste Hindu party. Their poll machinery in North-East, spearheaded by general secretary Ram Madhav and Assam's Himanta Sarma, is also sturdy. Further, these states traditionally prefer the same party in power at Centre and in states.
Meanwhile, Shah also unleashed an attack on the Opposition
Separately, Shah didn't leave this opportunity to slam the Opposition for Parliament's ongoing stalemate. He said, "We are ready to debate on all issues but the Opposition doesn't want the House to function." Regarding the no-confidence motion, Shah confidently said, "We have the majority with us."
