BJP Strategy for State Elections: Seek Votes in Name of PM Modi

Ranchi: The BJP has decided that in states that are headed for elections, voters will be urged to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party will not announce a chief ministerial candidate, hoping to leverage the momentum that swept Mr Modi to office in May, and appears undiminished in his first 100 days in office.

Among the states that will choose their next government soon are Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. BJP President Amit Shah, acknowledged as Mr Modi's closest aide, was in Jharkhand's capital city of Ranchi today and announced that no leader other than Mr Modi will be projected in the campaign for the state election.

The incumbent government in the state is headed by Hemant Soren of the regional Jharkhand Mukti Morcha; he is supported by the Congress.

But in Jharkhand , the mood on the ground seems to be quite tough for incumbent Hemant Soren who  has been plagued by one controversy after another. Political observers feel that even though he will able to stitch a Mahagathabandhan on pattern of neighboring Bihar but its advantage BJP.

"Please help us get a  clear majority," Mr Shah said at a rally today for party workers, setting a target of  70 of the 81 seats in the state legislature.

By ruling out any emphasis on a state leader in the campaign, he is seen to be checking dissidence within the BJP in Jharkhand. "Don't worry about who will be an MLA or chief minister," he said, "just work to ensure we get big numbers," he said.

By ruling out any leader for the Chief Minister 's post ,the BJPis also trying to avert anypossibility of alienating tribals or non tribals.  At the same time the party will now be open tocriticism of going the Congress way where Chief Ministers were always nominatedby party high command.

In case of BJP it will be Narendra Modi, who will nominateall the leaders and the election of leader of legislature will be an eyewash.