Expansion on mind, BJP chief to tour 7 states

With the BJP aiming to expand its reach across India, party chief Amit Shah is reportedly planning to tour seven states — Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala — early December.

With the BJP aiming to expand its reach across India, party chief Amit Shah is reportedly planning to tour seven states — Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala — early December.

These states account for 161 Lok Sabha seats and the party only managed to win 13 in the general elections. The BJP failed to win a single seat in Kerala despite the RSS’ strong presence in the state.

“He will spend two days in each of these seven states for a pep talk with party leaders,” BJP national secretary Arun Singh told HT.

As the party president, Shah in August had set a target of making the BJP a key player in these states. Assam and West Bengal have assumed significance as they go to assembly polls next year.

“Shah will meet full-time party workers assigned specific duties and those in-charges of membership drives at the district level. We plan to set out a specific target for every party worker on how to expand the BJP’s base,” Singh said. The BJP chief will meet state office bearers besides addressing public meetings in all seven states. Full-time workers mostly come from the RSS and the BJP plans to use them in building the party’s organisational structure and its subsequent expansion.

Emphasis has also been placed on building the party’s cadre strength.