BJP meet to chalk out strategy to keep the heat on Congress

A three-day meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s National Executive and the National Council will begin on Wednesday at Surajkund in Haryana to deliberate on the current political and economic situation and dwell on the party strategy to keep up the campaign against the UPA in general and the Congress in particular.

Although no surprises are in store at the two conclaves, they assume political significance for two reasons. With Assembly elections due in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, the two political organs of the BJP would deliberate on its strategy in the States.

While Gujarat under the leadership of Narendra Modi is considered a sure shot, the party leadership has to tackle factionalism in Himachal Pradesh. Senior party leaders believe that victory in the two States is crucial to sustain the campaign against the Congress and position the party as an entity capable of providing a credible alternative to the UPA.

Since the crisis within the UPA triggered by the Trinamool Congress on FDI in multi-brand retail, the BJP has gone out of its way to emphasise that it has no intention whatsoever to destabilise the UPA.

In his press conference here last week, BJP president Nitin Gadkari was unambiguous that his party would do nothing to disturb the government.

Senior party leaders said the BJP would like to focus entirely on the Assembly elections in Gujarat, Himachal, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh scheduled in the next few months.

The National Council that meets on Thursday and Friday will ratify the amendment to the party constitution, allowing a second term to the party president.