BJP plans inroads into rural areas with centralised campaign for local body polls

The BJP is confident of making a mark in the rural areas in the forthcoming local body polls with the leadership deciding to give ‘B’ forms to the contesting candidates for the ZPTC — Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies, MPTC — Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies.

A workshop held recently to discuss the plan of action for the polls and presided over by party president and Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy has decided to put up a coordinated centralised campaign plan in collaboration with the newly appointed district presidents and local committees, said top party sources on Thursday.

“The party is in a good position, having done well in both Assembly and Parliament elections, where we won eight seats each. It was followed by winning two MLC elections. Our membership drive led to 40 lakh enrolments, up from 11 lakh. We have also become organisationally strong with the formation of mandal and booth committees,” they said.

Since sarpanches will be elected on a non-party basis, the party leadership has decided to focus on MPTC/ZPTC where thus far the combined strength is said to be about 150 more concentrated in Mahabubnagar, Karimnagar and Nizamabad.

“The party will actively seek applications from interested candidates and vet them instead of merely depending on local leadership. Our 450 mandal and 23,000 booth committees will come in handy. The eight MPs and eight MLAs, too, have been sounded out about their respective roles,” said party sources.

The BJP also feels it is the right time to make inroads into the villages because of the ‘anti-incumbency’ of the Congress government due to various issues like delayed ‘Rythu Bharosa’ scheme, fee reimbursement failure and non-implementation of six guarantees.

The opposition BRS is in a disarray with family bickering leaving the cadre demoralised. Plus, not winning a single seat in Lok Sabha polls, not putting up candidates for MLC elections and the ongoing probe into phone tapping, and Kaleshwaram project, had put it on a back foot, said a senior leader.

“Our party always had a presence in urban areas but this time we are confident of making inroads into the districts. Since, Telugu Desam Party is our coalition partner, we are sure to benefit,” said former MLC N. Ramchander Rao.