In a bid to improve its fortune in politically sensitive Uttar Pradesh, the central leadership of the BJP has asked the state unit leaders to go back to roots and find its former cadre, including those from the Jan Sangh days. Assembly polls in the state are scheduled for next years and the BJP state leaders have been asked to personally meet its old cadre and to take their suggestions and ask for their assistance to help the party win more seats in the polls.
“Party leaders have been asked to get in touch with those cadre who had an important role to play during the BJP’s glory days (early 90s). The BJP is a cadre-based party and its revival in the state cannot take place unless its cadre is mobilised. We are getting in touch with some of our old cadre, who had helped the party to gain foothold in the UP,” said a senior state unit leader.
The party has also lined up number of public rallies in the state where state unit leaders and some leaders from the central leadership will address.
“Some of the old cadre we met told us that internal fighting is one of the major issues that is coming in the way of the BJP. We are seeking suggestions from them and will incorporate in our strategy for the polls,” said the senior state unit leader.
The party, which is often in news for internal fighting in the state unit, has also asked its leaders to project a “united front”.
Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kalraj Mishra has already been named in-charge of the UP election by the party. A working group consisting of senior leaders, including Mr Mishra, Rajnath Singh, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Vinay Katiyar, has also been set up for the UP Assembly polls. Currently, the party has 50 MLAs in the 402-strong UP Assembly.
The party also has 10 MPs from the state.
The party is hopeful of improving its Assembly seats in the state by another 40 seats and play a meaningful role in the formation of the next government in the state.