Modi and Shah will meet BJP CMs to plan poll outreach ahead of 2019

NEWDELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet chief ministers of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states here on Tuesday to discuss plans about reaching out to beneficiaries of the government’s welfare schemes as part of efforts to ensure the party returns to power.

BJP president Amit Shah will also attend the day-long meetings along with deputy chief ministers of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-ruled states. The country’s political situation and general preparedness for the 2019 national election will also be discussed, three BJP functionaries said. The BJP rules 15 states and has deputy chief ministers in four states, where it shares power with allies.

“Each of these states has been asked to submit block-wise details of the beneficiaries of the government schemes,” a BJP leader said on the condition of .

The BJP claims the government’s welfare schemes had benefitted about 22 crore people. The party has drawn a plan to reach out to each of them for support in the next election.

“The BJP has 11-crore plus members. If we can convert welfare schemes into voters, the BJP will return to power with a majority greater than 2014. The chief ministers’ conclave will discuss all these issues threadbare,” said another leader.

Free LPG cylinders to BPL families, universal banking services, loan for startup, funds to promote self-employment among scheduled castes youth are some of the welfare schemes of the BJP government.

Each chief and deputy chief minister has been asked to come with a report.

The BJP faces challenges of unified opposition in states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra while in three election-bound states – Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan – the BJP faces a direct contest with the Congress.