09-15-2008, 03:59 AM
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Advani lists five tasks before BJP</b>
Neena Vyas
The main task is to get into poll mode
BANGALORE: Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani on Sunday advised his partymen to immediately get into the âmust winâ mode as the first in a list of five tasks that must be accomplished to win the Assembly election battles ahead and the Lok Sabha war looming large.
The second point that he mentioned, in his closing remarks on the last day of the three-day party conclave here, was the need to strengthen the National Democratic Alliance. In short, find new friends.
So far, only the Asom Gana Parishad â other than existing NDA allies, the Shiv Sena, the Janata Dal (United), the Akali Dal and the Biju Janata Dal â has shown inclination to accept a seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP. And general secretary Arun Jaitley has talked about the possibility of a tie-up with Ajit Singhâs Rashtriya Lok Dal in Uttar Pradesh.
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The third âtaskâ was to ensure that the party worked as a team, Mr. Advani said. In this context, he said he was âdeeply upsetâ by the tendency of some partymen to âspeak out of turnâ and make public statements about prospective alliances and other aspects of the partyâs election strategy. In fact, the party has issued a directive to all, including leaders, not to talk about prospective alliances when talks between the BJP and some other party may be at a delicate stage.</b>
It was felt public statements by leaders often spoilt chances of expanding the NDA, and BJP leaders admit in private that the key to winning the Lok Sabha election would be the alliances the party makes.
The next âtaskâ before the party was to come up with an agenda for good governance. The manifesto committee has already been set up and senior leader Venkaiah Naidu said anyone from the party was free to send in suggestions for the manifesto. In the context of the fifth task spelt out by Mr. Advani â reaching out to first-time voters aged 18 to 22 â Mr. Naidu said state units of the BJP have been asked to hold conventions for this group of voters.
Mr. Advani emphasised the need to fight the anti-incumbency factor in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
âWe must be attentive towards local-level anti-incumbency in certain constituencies,â he said, hinting that the BJP could adopt a strategy of bringing in new faces as candidates, as was done in Gujarat with success.
He indicated that Chief Ministers of these States would be given a free-hand in finalising candidates. âThe supremacy of chief ministerial candidates, under whose leadershipâ the party would go to the polls must be maintained, he said.
In these three States, the BJP has already made clear that existing Chief Ministers would lead BJP governments once again if the party wins in those states. However, in the case of Delhi, where the BJP hopes to wrest power from the Congress, a decision on a chief ministerial candidate would be taken by the partyâs Parliamentary Board at an appropriate time, Mr. Naidu told journalists.
Mr. Naidu announced that state units have been asked to complete the task of setting up election-related state committees by September and finalising possible candidatesâ lists by October.
Call for e-campaign
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had suggested extensive use of an e-campaign through e-mail, e-posters and so on, Mr. Naidu said. And in Delhi, the task of re-starting the stalled process of candidate-selection would begin next month.
Advani lists five tasks before BJP</b>
Neena Vyas
The main task is to get into poll mode
BANGALORE: Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani on Sunday advised his partymen to immediately get into the âmust winâ mode as the first in a list of five tasks that must be accomplished to win the Assembly election battles ahead and the Lok Sabha war looming large.
The second point that he mentioned, in his closing remarks on the last day of the three-day party conclave here, was the need to strengthen the National Democratic Alliance. In short, find new friends.
So far, only the Asom Gana Parishad â other than existing NDA allies, the Shiv Sena, the Janata Dal (United), the Akali Dal and the Biju Janata Dal â has shown inclination to accept a seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP. And general secretary Arun Jaitley has talked about the possibility of a tie-up with Ajit Singhâs Rashtriya Lok Dal in Uttar Pradesh.
<b>
The third âtaskâ was to ensure that the party worked as a team, Mr. Advani said. In this context, he said he was âdeeply upsetâ by the tendency of some partymen to âspeak out of turnâ and make public statements about prospective alliances and other aspects of the partyâs election strategy. In fact, the party has issued a directive to all, including leaders, not to talk about prospective alliances when talks between the BJP and some other party may be at a delicate stage.</b>
It was felt public statements by leaders often spoilt chances of expanding the NDA, and BJP leaders admit in private that the key to winning the Lok Sabha election would be the alliances the party makes.
The next âtaskâ before the party was to come up with an agenda for good governance. The manifesto committee has already been set up and senior leader Venkaiah Naidu said anyone from the party was free to send in suggestions for the manifesto. In the context of the fifth task spelt out by Mr. Advani â reaching out to first-time voters aged 18 to 22 â Mr. Naidu said state units of the BJP have been asked to hold conventions for this group of voters.
Mr. Advani emphasised the need to fight the anti-incumbency factor in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
âWe must be attentive towards local-level anti-incumbency in certain constituencies,â he said, hinting that the BJP could adopt a strategy of bringing in new faces as candidates, as was done in Gujarat with success.
He indicated that Chief Ministers of these States would be given a free-hand in finalising candidates. âThe supremacy of chief ministerial candidates, under whose leadershipâ the party would go to the polls must be maintained, he said.
In these three States, the BJP has already made clear that existing Chief Ministers would lead BJP governments once again if the party wins in those states. However, in the case of Delhi, where the BJP hopes to wrest power from the Congress, a decision on a chief ministerial candidate would be taken by the partyâs Parliamentary Board at an appropriate time, Mr. Naidu told journalists.
Mr. Naidu announced that state units have been asked to complete the task of setting up election-related state committees by September and finalising possible candidatesâ lists by October.
Call for e-campaign
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had suggested extensive use of an e-campaign through e-mail, e-posters and so on, Mr. Naidu said. And in Delhi, the task of re-starting the stalled process of candidate-selection would begin next month.