BJP is well in advance preparing for the assembly polls due in 2019. They already have planned strategies to woo in voters and form government in as many states as possible. The BJP and the ruling Telugu Desam Party are allies in Andhra Pradesh. While addressing the ‘Maha Sammelan’ in Vijayawada, Amaravati BJP president Amit Shah proudly boasted that, BJP has over 330 members in Parliament and 1,387 in state legislatures. BJP government is ruling in 13 states and are coalition partners in four other states. He further said that BJP is proud to have the world famous leader Narendra Modi as its member.
He noted that the BJP was the largest political party in the world with a membership of 11 crore.
Talking about the achievements of Modi-government in Andhra Pradesh, in past three years, Shah said that, it has launched as many as 106 new schemes for people’s welfare since 2014. There is a scheme for everyone the youths, farmers, women, the poor. Seven crore youths availed of loans under Mudra Yojana for self-employment and job provision.
During the ‘Maha Sammelan’, he called it a “milestone” and the beginning of a new chapter for the party and efforts were on to strengthen the BJP in AP. He further stated that, since Independence, it was for the first time that AP got projects sanctioned worth Rs 1.75 lakh crore under the Modi-government. He also added that, the Centre is bearing the full cost of Polavaram project. Shah appealed to the public to, light up their houses, decorate them with rangoli, burst crackers and make it a festival, when Narendra Modi comes to Visakhapatnam in July (for the BJP’s national executive meeting). He even mentioned that, he will also be visiting AP for three days in August.
Shah brought up the issue of special category status (SCS) and cleared that, AP is no longer relevant for (SCS), as the Centre last year announced a development package for the state. He assured that, AP will not get even a single rupee less than what it would have got under SCS.
While concluding, he tactfully avoided any reference to the future ties with the TDP. He only said that,BJP and TDP were coalition partners and that two of BJP ministers in AP government are doing a very good job.
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu also informed that, a “Modi Fest” would be organised across the country from 26 May till 15 June. The main purpose of this programme is not against anyone but only to expand BJP’s base in all parts of the country, he added.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, BJP state president Kambhampati Hari Babu, state ministers Kamineni Srinivas, P Manikyala Rao and other senior leaders also attended the meet.