NEW DELHI: The BJP is all set to rock Delhi with rallies. In a huge show of strength through Modi-style of election campaigning, the Delhi state BJP has plans to hold at least 100 rallies and meetings in the capital on November 8 to garner support for the upcoming assembly polls and to awe its political opponents. BJP’s national president, Amit Shah, Union minister Nitin Gadkari and MP Udit Raj will address a rally at Ramlila Maidan organised by the All India Confederation of SC/ST Employees’ Organisations. Before joining BJP, Udit Raj had worked among the SC/ST employees for years and the BJP show aims to garner support of Dalits in Delhi.
In November, Shah asked party workers to contribute to the BJP’s expansion across the country. He asked all 325 BJP MPs in both houses to address over 2000 conferences in the next 20 days in Delhi. While the parliament session is on till December 23, MPs have been asked to hold small meetings in the evening in different areas of the Capital. According to sources, Union minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, MP from the Fatehpur seat in Uttar Pradesh whose controversial remarks created a political storm last week will address a huge gathering in South Delhi on Monday. “The cabinet minister has apologised and the attempt by the Opposition to disrupt the Parliament shows that they do not have real issues to discuss,” said a BJP leader.
“Two hundred and twenty five MPs have already given their confirmation and have been given allotted time slots to hold the rallies,” Rajiv Pratap Rudy, the MP from Bihar said last week.
The party has been holding meetings and nukkad-sabhas in Delhi. Sabhas at Gole Market, Trilokpuri, Dilshad Garden, Sangam Vihar, among other places, saw poor turnout. BJP members admit that there was a lack of coordination between the local units, state office and MPs and that the new team is taking some time to get the hang of things. The management was poor and the MPs didn’t have any idea of the local issues. As a result, they were not pulling the crowds, said sources. The state unit had cancelled all the meetings and planned to organise a big show of strength on Monday. This time around, the state unit is well prepared and is going to brief the leaders from various states about the local issues and points to talk about. Water, electricity, jobs and other issues will be addressed. Delhi-BJP media in-charge Praveen Shankar Kapoor said, “The party has time right now. Parliament proceedings will go on till December 23 and the MPs are busy. The recent controversy distracted our focus and hence the delay,” said Kapoor.
The party had already planned to hold rallies by its 30 MPs from various states in the capital. Now the number has gone up to 100 including MPs Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, party leader Menakshi Lekhi, Udit Raj, Amit Shah, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti. MPs from Chhatishgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, and three MPs from Delhi shall also address public meetings. Shri Om Birla, MP from Kota Rajasthan will visit Muslim majority area Okhala. MP from Gujarat Deep Singh Rathore will address meeting in Khayala and Bihar MP Janakram will address public meeting in Sawan Park. MP Meenakshi Lekhi will address meeting in Kasturba Nagar. MP from Bhadoi Virender Singh will talk to the people in Buraari.