NEW DELHI: In the wake of upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, the chief ministers of BJP ruled states went into a huddle with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party chief Amit Shah here on Tuesday. Firming up alliances remained at the forefront of the deliberations.
Briefing reporters, Chattishgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said the party was geared up for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and form the government at the Centre under the leadership of Modi. He added that the day-long deliberations discussed the poll preparedness for the 2019 general elections.
The BJP chief separately held a meeting with Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on the sidelines of the day-long deliberations with the CMs. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is also likely to be in the national capital soon to hold final talks with Shah over seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha elections in the state.
“The BJP chief separately discussed and reviewed targets for the Lok Sabha elections with a few chief ministers. The party will be looking at the possibility of alliances in Maharashtra and even prepare for any eventuality, including contesting the Lok Sabha polls without pre-poll seat adjustment with the NDA ally Shiv Sena,” a BJP source said.
The Prime Minister also took stock of the progress on the Garib Kalyan agenda in the BJP-ruled states, with thrust on expeditious expansion of beneficiaries. Sources said that the CMs were asked to give more push to the Swachch Bharat campaign.
The chief ministers’ council also paid rich tributes to the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had passed away on August 16. Vajpayee’s contributions to the country and the party were recalled during the meeting.