From Dalits' welfare to highlighting NRC - How BJP plans to retain power in 2019

As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday held a day-long meeting to review their flagship schemes ahead of Lok Sabha elections 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi listed a number of decisions and legislation effected by his government benefiting all sections of society, particularly Dalits, Other Backward Communities, the poor and farmers. The Chief Ministers' Council meeting, which took place at BJP headquarters in Delhi, is considered as part of party's efforts to retain power in 2019.

Apart from the Lok Sabha polls, the Saffron party also discussed their upcoming agendas in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, three BJP-governed states, which are slated to go to poll later this year.

The meeting, under the leadership of PM Modi, was attended by 14 of the 15 BJP chief ministers, several Union ministers and party president Amit Shah.

Briefing reporters on August 28 meeting, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said, "We have taken a pledge that we will win the Lok Sabha polls with a majority bigger than the one we had in the 2014 polls. We will also ensure our victory in three state polls”.

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Talking about ‘Swachh Bharat’ exercise, Singh further said the government has been building toilets and focussing on cleanliness, and the ongoing ‘Gram Swaraj’ project in over 48,000 villages, adding that PM Modi has asked the party’s chief ministers to focus on their speedy execution and take it to the masses during elections.

The bill passed in Parliament to grant constitutional status to the OBC commission has also generated a lot of positive response, Singh said.

The issue of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam was also discussed with the party asserting that the presence of illegal infiltrators could not be tolerated in the country. They also said that minority Hindus in neighbouring countries must find a home in India if they are persecuted there, he added.

Meanwhile, party chief Shah also made a mention of overwhelming tributes paid by people to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee following his death on August 16. The meeting passed a resolution remembering the BJP stalwart and hailing his works for the country.

The hike in MSP for crops has been of a huge help for the agriculture sector, Shah said during his interaction with reporters.

Speaking to reporters, Raman Singh also mocked the Opposition over its efforts to unite to take on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), saying they are engaging in a futile exercise as Modi is certain to return to power. The central government’s scheme has benefitted all sections of society, he added.

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Addressing the ministers at BJP headquarters, PM Modi also vowed for social justice while speaking about laws passed by Parliament for the welfare of Dalits, tribals and Other Backward Communities, besides measures such as hiking minimum support price for crops to benefit farmers.

“Fruitful meeting with Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of states where the BJP is in power,” Modi tweeted following the August 28 meeting in Delhi.

(With inputs from agencies)