Despite his confidence, BJP may not be able to form the govt in Karnataka as the party has not reached the majority mark yet.
New Delhi: Exuding confidence that BJP would form the government in Karnataka, party chief Amit Shah had asked BJP leaders to prepare for celebrations in the capital Monday, a day before the assembly poll results were declared.
In his party meetings, Shah identified the Karnataka polls as the party’s “gateway to the south”.
“We will form the government nonetheless. They scrubbed us out in Tripura and claimed we won’t win Assam when we staked a claim,” Shah said, addressing the BJP’s national office-bearers in Delhi Monday.
“They said Gujarat is impossible due to anti-incumbency. You know what happened there,” he said to boost the morale of his party colleagues.
He categorically told the leaders that Karnataka was a fight between a party of cadre and a strong organisation versus a “no-cadre party” (Congress).
Despite such assertions, the BJP may still not be able to form the government in Karnataka although it bagged more than 100 seats but needed at least half a dozen more to touch the majority till the filing of this report
Gateway to the south
In the past, Shah had described Karnataka election as the party’s “gateway to the south”. Although the BJP had won assembly polls in the state in 2008 as well, what he meant was that this victory would herald a new beginning for the BJP in south India.
“For the Modi-Shah combine, it is the win that matters most as it will impact adjoining states,” a party leader said.
“Once in power, the party could do more to impress upon people with good administration. Shah wants to get rid of the idea that the BJP is predominantly a north Indian party,” added the leader.
Set to expand footprint in south?
Shah said BJP had campaigned in Karnataka to win. “People will say — ‘what about other states — Tamil Nadu, Kerala and others’ . Arrey, wahaan to hum abhi utare hi nahin hain (We have not even begun there),” he had said.
Sources in the party said that Shah has a plan for all the states. What is clear is that the party is not looking at any strong ally — regional or national.
“The tantrums that allies throw are not acceptable. We want allies that can be managed easily,” added the party leader.
But the real challenge is: BJP does not have much significance in the rest of the southern states such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
How will the BJP ensure it has a stake in governments in all these states?
“We are not opposed to alliance with regional parties. In Kerala, the BJP and the RSS are already working on the grounds.
“We have begun building our organisation, which is the foundation of winning any election in all these states. After all, people never expected us to win Tripura as well,” added a senior party leader.
The BJP has restructured its state unit in Andhra Pradesh and changed the state president recently, the party leader said.
Already in election mode
The BJP chief has already held meetings of state presidents and morcha chiefs to ensure that the Modi government’s achievements are publicised among masses.
A chart of events is being prepared to celebrate four years of Modi government. Organisational changes are taking place, especially in states which will go to polls later this year. The CMs of those states have held strategic meetings as well.