BJP Set For An Overhaul For 2019, PM Modi's Next Big Focus To Be UP Polls

New Delhi: The BJP registered a big win in Assam on Thursday but Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not taking a break. Five days before his government completes two years in power, PM Modi began consultations for an overhaul which will involve his council of ministers, the BJP organization and even state governors.

The PM on Friday held a meeting lasting over two hours with BJP president Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to begin consultations for an exercise which will create a team that will prepare the ground and lead the party into the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
 Sources say the PM may shuffle portfolios, bring in fresh faces, drop some ministers and even draft some to the organization. With this exercise, Mr Shah will get his new team of vice presidents and general secretaries.

"Some course correction is needed in the council. After two years PM has a fair assessment of those who can deliver and those who can't. So a shuffle is imminent. Those with good organisational skills will be sent to the party. The next three years are critical. As there are states which are must win," said a senior minister.

The next big test for the BJP is Uttar Pradesh. The party won over 70 of the 80 seats. A setback in 2017 assembly polls will weaken BJP chances of a repeat of 2014 in 2019.

That's why the rejig of the council will have a focus on UP. Sources say some new faces from UP may join the council. The strategy for UP will involve several layers of preparations.

The BJP may opt for going to UP polls without a chief ministerial candidate. According to a report presented by PM Modi's confidante OM Mathur on Uttar Pradesh, the state could be divided into few zones and one leader can be entrusted with a zone to operate like a regional satrap. But the PM doesn't want a plan which doesn't incorporate the Congress' next move in UP. In case the Congress, stung by the recent losses, pushes one of the Gandhis as the face for UP, the BJP may announce a candidate.

The PM may also shuffle governors. There is a possibility of change in Gujarat chief minister and incumbent Anandiben Patel getting a gubernatorial posting.

The overhaul will be whetted by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or the RSS, the ideological mentor of the BJP. In fact, the RSS is confident that it was the Sangh's strategy that paid off in Assam and UP should have a big role for it.

Sources say that even the Sangh knows UP has to be won. That's why the outfit may depute special pointspersons for the coming polls.

Though there is no clarity on the timing of the exercise, some sources say that June will be the month when the PM will take the next big step, not just for 2017 but till 2019.