BJP gears up to counter JD(U) campaign

With the ruling Janata Dal (United) launching its campaign for the Bihar Assembly elections, which are just three months away, the faction-ridden BJP appears to be getting its act together.

After the JD(U) started its door-to-door campaign on Thursday, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar himself visiting several houses in the capital, BJP president Amit Shah called a meeting of State leaders on Friday to discuss the campaign strategy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bihar on July 25 to blow the poll bugle for the party and its allies. He will address a public rally at Muzaffarpur and may also announce a “big package” for the State.

Sources in the BJP told

The Hindu that the party had almost decided to contest the elections as a “collective force,” instead of declaring a chief ministerial candidate. However, BJP State president Mangal Pandey is learnt to have shot off a letter to the central leadership to declare Sushil Kumar Modi the chief ministerial candidate of the NDA. Mr. Pandey is a protégé of Mr. Sushil Modi. But the central leadership, the sources said, decided against it. “Our tallest leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the party’s face in Bihar, too” Rajya Sabha member C.P. Thakur said.

Though the BJP is yet to begin its campaign, it has sent all central leaders from Bihar to the State to interact with workers. The RSS has despatched its workers and some research scholars to the remote areas for establishing contact with the people and to send back feedback to the BJP.

Copying the model the BJP adopted for the 2014 general election, Mr. Nitish Kumar has put together a team, roping in Prashant Kishor, who was behind Mr. Narendra Modi’s successful campaign.

Almost all big hoardings of Patna and elsewhere and over 25,000 auto-rickshaws plying in the capital have been booked by the JD(U). The party has already completed its

parcha pe charcha (discussion on pamphlets), under which leaders connected with the people in groups.

PM Modi may announce a “big package” for Bihar during a rally on July 25