Odisha features in BJP’s National executive meeting, first-time voters in focus

With just over a year left for the 2024 general elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has begun its preparations to make every day till the polls count.

If the recently concluded National Executive meeting of the party is any indication, apart from the States which will see Assembly elections this year, Odisha, West Bengal and Telangana are under special focus. And youths, first-time voters will be targeted to help the saffron party to win its third term at the Centre.

As per reports, the BJP is eyeing to strengthen its organisation in Odisha at booth, Shakti Kendra and Mandal levels by bringing the Gujarat model to the State. The party will work on the strategy of touching each and every voter by appointing a leader for every page of the voter-list.

BJP General Secretary, Prithviraj Harichandan said, “We have already started adopting the organizational model of Gujarat and I am sure it will bring good results for us too.”

Youths between 18 to 25 years are in the focus of the party. The State unit of the saffron party is reportedly advised by the central leadership to educate the young voters about the failures and poor governance during the Congress and current BJD government.

On the issue of governance, Congress MLA, Tara Prasad Bahinipati said, “There was not any poor governance during Congress rule. In fact, it is the BJP which has brought poor governance upon all of us. You will see BJP will be wiped out in India in the next election.”

“The BJP is trying to mislead the people of Odisha. People are watching how the State has been transformed. It has impressed the youths to a large extent and they will not entertain the BJP anymore,” said BJD leader, Pradeep Majhi.

Apart from that, the State unit of the BJP has been told to bring the corruption and failures of the State government out in the open and intensify its fight against the same. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Odisha in the recent future under the party's Lok Sabha Pravas programme.

Some experts feel these preparations can bring results only if they are implemented at the grassroots level. “The results depend how much of these strategies will be implemented by the party on ground. However, we are yet to see anything positive in BJP’s favour till now,” said K Ravi, senior journalist.

(Reported By Harihar Chand, OTV)