NEW DELHI: True to its wont of staying far ahead of rivals in planning, BJP has initiated an intensive survey to assess its strength across the country in preparations for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. While the 2014 General Elections for the saffron outfit had centred on Mission 275 (to win 275 seats), the outcome of the survey will help BJP give a specific target to its party workers. “The survey is initiated with the basic objective to classify Lok Sabha constituencies across the country on the winnability factor. The BJP had won 282 Lok Sabha seats in the 2014 polls. Thus, the survey has a specific task to spell out challenges for the party in retaining these 282 seats. The mandate of the survey is also an appraisal of Lok Sabha members of the party,” said a senior BJP functionary on the condition of anonymity.
BJP chief Amit Shah is famed for making minute preparations in the run up to elections. “The BJP chief will not hesitate to drop an MP if the outcome of the survey indicates his weaknesses and failures to come up to the expectations of the people. Since the BJP chief had made it clear just after the 2014 elections that MPs have to reach out the benefits of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government’s schemes to the people, the survey will also find out the extent of the success of the drive,” added the BJP functionary.
The survey will help the BJP classify the Lok Sabha constituencies into categories such as comfortably placed, tough contest, lagging behind, extremely difficult. “Since at least one-and-a-half years are left for the Lok Sabha elections, the outcome of the survey will help the party to prioritise energy and allocate resources where the contests will not be a walkover,” he said.
While Shah has been mentoring the party on the path of expansion in areas not considered saffron strength, the survey will also assess the success of efforts so far and the roadmap ahead. “Mission South and the eastern expansion have been the twin tasks taken up by the BJP chief. The survey will help us understand where we actually stand. If we are lagging behind in constituencies where we have to win, then the outcome of the survey will also help identify leaders in other political parties who could be won over in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections,” said the BJP functionary.
The audit Will...
■ Help BJP give a specific target for its cadres, especially retaining 282 seats in 2019
■ Help classify Lok Sabha constituencies into categories such as comfortably placed, tough contest, lagging behind, extremely difficult
■ Assess success of efforts and the roadmap ahead for the party
■ Identify leaders in other parties who can be won over before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections