Nagpur: The 2019 Lok Sabha election is still 20 months away but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to have gone into poll mode and put itself in top gear. The party stalwart and the current Nagpur MP, Nitin Gadkari is leaving no stone unturned to win the next election by historic margin – 5-7 lakh votes.
Till the 2014 Lok Sabha election, Gadkari was being targeted for avoiding a direct fight in any election and chose the backdoor entry to be a member of State Legislative Council. However, the stalwart proved the critics wrong by jumping into 2014 Lok Sabha fray and winning the seat by more than 2.5 lakh votes. The shrewd politician he is, Gadkari ensured votes of Muslims, Dalits and other sections of society going in his kitty.
Gadkari’s dream of winning the next Lok Sabha election by historic margin could come true as the local unit of Congress is on the “deathbed” and fighting for its existence. With the situation ripe for an all-out offensive, the BJP leader has started mobilising all his resources for the ‘Mission 2019.’ He is, since past month, meeting a number of office-bearers of various party units and dispatching them on public relations exercise. An office-bearer of the party said that the party organization will be expanded in such a way that in 2019 Lok Sabha elections the target of getting 7 lakh votes for Gadkari could be easily achieved.
“The preparations for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls are on, party cadres and leaders have been given clear cut task to move to their respective areas and go all out to prepare for the avowed mission,” a party leader said. The BJP has always been making preparations well in advance in all the elections instructing its cadres. This has been the way the party has been going about in all elections and this time too it is no different, he said.
According to sources frequently visiting the ‘Wada’ (Gadkari’s residence), the BJP leader had, a few months ago, convened a meeting of top officials of various government departments and directed them in strong words that if any action against citizens is to be taken the deadline is December 31, 2017. After that date, no anti-people action would be initiated on any issue until the 2019 Lok Sabha elections are over.
The directive assumes importance as NMC is likely to crack down on defaulters of water and property tax soon after the “Abhay Yojana” comes to an end. The NMC has launched the Amnesty Scheme from July 17 to August 7 for the defaulters to come clean and pay their pending dues.
