Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah are having a day-long meeting at the BJP headquarters today with chief ministers and deputy chief ministers of party-ruled states to discuss the strategy for a series of state polls scheduled later this year and the 2019 national election.
Assembly elections are due later this year in party-ruled Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. In the first two states, the BJP has been ruling for 15 years and will seek a fourth term. The party faces a strong anti-incumbency factor in all three. Chief Ministers of the states are expected to make presentations in a separate meeting.
In Rajasthan, the government of Vasundhara Raje will seek a second term in power.
The party will also take stock of governance in other states, which will prove crucial to next year's mandate. Sources said the Chief Ministers have been asked to present a report card of their government's achievements where execution of the central schemes, especially the 12 flagship projects, will be a key focus area. Party chief Amit Shah has visited most of the states in recent weeks.
"Discussions are likely to focus on general strategy and preparedness for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls," a BJP leader said. The chief ministers will be asked to give their estimate of the number of Lok Sabha seats the BJP can count on winning in their states.
The BJP has 15 chief ministers and seven deputy chief ministers, including two in Uttar Pradesh and one each in Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura.
In Bihar, the BJP is part of the coalition government led by Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United and in Nagaland, it is part of the ruling People's Democratic Alliance.
The party is likely to discuss possible alliances in other states, where opposition parties are prepping to join forces to take on the BJP.
This is the first major meeting of the party after its veteran leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee's death on August 16. The meeting is likely to begin with a tribute to the three-time prime minister.
Implement Central Schemes "In Letter And Spirit", BJP Chief Ministers Told PM Modi, Amit Shah, BJP Chief Meet Chief Ministers At Party Headquarters 3 Independents Extend Unconditional Support To BJP Government In Arunachal Life On Earth Originates From One Ancestor, Older Than Previously Believed Cops Probing Conspiracy Angle Into Kolkata Hospital Vandalism: 5 Points Omar Abdullah On What Should Be J&K Assembly's 1st Move After Polls Siddaramaiah's Swipe At Governor Amid Calls For Resignation: 10 Points Swiss Air Lines Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing In Kazakhstan Chechen Leader Drives Armed Tesla Cybertruck, Plans To Send It to Ukraine Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.