Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 14: A special meeting of state BJP MPs, legislators and MLCs from Karnataka held at New Delhi to discuss the upcoming Lok Sabha (LS) election has set a target of not less than 20 LS seats to the state leaders. The party's top brass also has drafted a 26-point programme to be effectively implemented towards achieving this ambitious goal.

An 18-point agenda had been followed by the party during the previous LS election. It has added eight more points this time. The central leadership of the party mainly wants to focus on identifying beneficiaries of various central government schemes and turn them in favour of the party.

Karnataka BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa

The special meeting was inaugurated by BJP Karnataka state affairs in-charge, Muralidhar Rao. In addition to Rao, BJP state BJP president, B S Yeddyurappa, and minister, D V Sadananda Gowda, addressed the gathering.

Muralidhar Rao reportedly pointed out that for the BJP, Karnataka happens to be a very important state as there is an opportunity to increase the tally of the party. He also felt that the party's performance here can have direct influence on its prospects in the neighbouring states. He asked the party functionaries from Karnataka to work unitedly to improve the performance of the party by following the instructions issued by the central leadership.

The party plans to woo more voters with the help of some new programmes. Muralidhar Rao wants the state leaders to organize bike rallies on a large scale, organization of programmes with the participation of party workers in which the workers have to take a pledge to corner at least 51 percent of voters from their polling booths for the party. Each of the party worker will be given the responsibility of maintaining contact with ten families on a regular basis and educate the families about various contributions made by the central government towards the welfare of the people and the nation.

The   party's central office would be providing booth-wise information about the beneficiaries of various central government schemes. The party wants the workers to hold programmes of lighting a lamp in such houses duly getting confirmation of the families to vote for the party which worked for their benefit. This programme is known as 'Kamala Jyothi' programme.     Cricket, volleyball and such other tournaments have to be organized under 'Lotus Cup' programme to attract young people towards the party, it is said.

Central ministers, Ananth Kumar Hegde and Ramesh Jigajinagi, senior leaders, Jagadish Shettar, K S Eshwarappa, R Ashok, Kota Srinivas Poojary, Govind Karjoll and many others took part in the meeting. A few legislators and MPs could not participate on account of ill health or personal commitments, it is said.

There is information that another such meeting under the leadership of national president of BJP, Amit Shah, is scheduled to be held at 11.30 am on Monday January 14. Thereafter, meetings of legislators grouped LS constituency-wise would be held in which discussions will also be held about the programmes to be undertaken in legislative and LS constituencies where the current people's representatives are not from BJP.