New Delhi: As far as the ruling BJP is concerned, the process of electioneering vis-a-vis the 2024 big battle has already started.
The saffron party will launch a unique, multi-level outreach programme across India starting on May 30. The day will also coincide with the completion of nine years in office by the PM Modi Government.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will share the stage and responsibility with former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani for a month-long outreach programme in Delhi.
Delhi’s seven Lok Sabha seats had been split into two clusters for the campaign. In two consecutive Lok Sabha polls – 2014 and 2019 – the saffron party has bagged all seven seats.
Dr S Jaishankar has been a career diplomat and joined the BJP only in 2019. He represents Gujarat in Rajya Sabha.
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is also an important political personality in the saffron party and is now in charge of Punjab.
Dr S Jaishankar had called Pakistan a ‘terrorist’ in 2019 and lately made news when he slammed Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and advised him not to play the role of a ‘spokesman for terrorism’.
“A provision (Article 370) intended to provide temporary comfort to the process of aligning with the rest of the nation was misused for many years. By doing so, it encouraged links between separatist politicians and terrorist groups sponsored by Pakistan,” Dr S Jaishankar wrote in an article in 2019.
There will be a ‘Sampark se Samarthan’ programme across the country, and this will have BJP outreach to at least 1000 influential people for each Lok Sabha constituency.
The Lotus party has planned a month-long programme at various levels across the country, including organising 51 public rallies. The month-long programme will also have interaction with Social Media influencers, businessmen and intellectuals at various mega-development project sites.
On May 30 or 31st, 2023, Prime Minister Modi will address a mega rally marking the launch of the month-long programme.
The 51 rallies proposed will be organised at Lok Sabha parliamentary constituencies, which will be addressed by Union Ministers, BJP national office bearers, Chief Ministers, Leaders Of the Opposition and State presidents and others.
In the North East, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, will be engaged full-time for month-long BJP programmes in Meghalaya in connection with the completion of nine years in office by the Modi Government.
Sources said Dilip Jaiswal, BJP in-charge for Sikkim, will also be with him.
The central BJP has planned similar programmes in tribal-dominated Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, Arunachal East, and Sikkim.
Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar and BJP national vice president M Chuba Ao will undertake the party’s outreach programmes in Arunachal East, Sikkim and Outer Manipur.
Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva has said that the party karyakartas will take the Modi Government’s work to the people in all parliamentary segments in the national capital.
“It is a month-long programme between May 30 and June 30, and in between, we will have a special day to remember the gory days and nights of the national Emergency imposed by Congress Government in 1975,” a key source told ‘Organiser’.
The Modi Government, in 2014, took over the reins of power on May 26, and five years later, after the renewed mandate wherein the Lotus party could pick up 303 seats, the Prime Minister and his ministerial colleagues were again sworn in on May 30, 2019.
The party leaders and State and local units will also organise Yoga Days on different days and especially on June 21 — the International Day of Yoga.
On June 23 — the death anniversary of the party icon Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee – the party units will organise a digital rally at 10 lakh booths with PM Modi, sources said.
PM Modi first took over as the Prime Minister on May 26, 2014, heralding a new chapter in Indian politics. Western commentators said Modi has emerged as India’s ‘new face’.
His pet slogan used to be Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, and in diplomacy, he opened a new phase by inviting all heads of nation and heads of Governments from SAARC countries.
In 2019, PM Modi returned to power with an enhanced mandate for the BJP and the saffron-party NDA combine.
In 2019, all BIMSTEC nations’ heads and heads of Government were invited.
These nine years, India has seen a phenomenal journey in the development of infrastructures, especially roads, railways and airports. PM Modi gave Jan Dhan, a scheme that guarantees bank accounts for the poor and also ensured an effective supply of electricity and brought in the revolutionary Swachh Abhiyan and constructed toilets.
It was the emergence of a glorious ‘New India’, and PM Modi also exhorted his large young supporters to join a revolution to fight the corruption of the old political order.
In July 2021, Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, paid tribute to Indian democracy when he said, “The most remarkable democratic election in the world, in many ways, is here in India….Americans admire Indians’ commitment to rights, democracy and pluralism. Indian democracy is powered by its free-thinking citizens. I approach this with humility”.
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