BJP chief ministers’ meeting to be held today; PM Modi, Amit Shah to be present

BJP sources said the conference of chief ministers has assumed added significance due to the upcoming assembly elections in three states and the Lok Sabha polls and these would be likely discussed in the day-long meeting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet chief ministers of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states in New Delhi on Tuesday to discuss plans about reaching out to beneficiaries of the government’s welfare schemes as part of efforts to ensure the party returns to power.

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) and BJP president Amit Shah. (AFP photo)

BJP president Amit Shah will also attend the day-long meetings along with deputy chief ministers of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-ruled states. The country’s political situation and general preparedness for the 2019 national election will also be discussed, three BJP functionaries said. The BJP rules 15 states and has deputy chief ministers in four states, where it shares power with allies.

“Each of these states has been asked to submit block-wise details of the beneficiaries of the government schemes,” a BJP leader said on the condition of.

The BJP claims the government’s welfare schemes had benefitted about 22 crore people. The party has drawn a plan to reach out to each of them for support in the next election.

“The BJP has 11-crore plus members. If we can convert welfare schemes into voters, the BJP will return to power with a majority greater than 2014. The chief ministers’ conclave will discuss all these issues threadbare,” said another leader.

Each chief and deputy chief minister has been asked to come with a report.

The BJP faces challenges of unified opposition in states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra while in three election-bound states — Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan — the BJP faces a direct contest with the Congress.