BJP targets ‘outcasts’ in other parties

As per the strategy of the top brass, the team will have to hunt and bring seasoned and sacked politicians from other political parties into the BJP fold. 

Politicians, who are identified and convinced by the team, would join the party in the presence of national president Amit Shah reportedly during his visit to the state, which may happen anytime now. 

According to sources, BJP has initiated several measures to gain a strong foothold in the state. A proof of this is the frequent and repeated visits of a host of BJP’s top leaders to Tamil Nadu to discuss different strategies with the state-level office-bearers for the growth of the party here. 

“We have already launched a programme called ‘VistarakYojana’ under which we have been visiting every nook and cranny of the state, besides appointing functionaries at the booth-level, especially in rural pockets,” said a party functionary. 

Another functionary said, “Senior leaders like party’s national president Amit Shah and national general secretary of the party Muralidhar Rao have been guiding us and they have formed a high-level team in the state to rope in seasoned and sidelined or sacked politicians from other political parties to woo them to join the BJP. The arrival of such veterans will be a shot in the arm for the party to expand its base. Such political veterans, who will have a sound knowledge of the issues in their region and the people’s mindset, can guide the party further in its mission to increase its base.” 

Admitting this, H Raja, national secretary, BJP, told DT Next, “Many politicians from leading political parties, including the AIADMK, DMK and Congress, have been in touch with us and we expect more to join the BJP during Amit Shah’s visit.” The recent joining of former AIADMK functionaries is a testimony to BJP’s growing strength in the state, he pointed out. 

It may be noted that former AIADMK minister Nainar Nagendran, former Vellore Mayor Karthiyayini and 14 others recently joined the BJP in the presence of Amit Shah in Delhi.