Karnataka BJP chairman B Y Vijayendra stated that during his discussions with the state leadership on Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to devise the party’s 2024 Lok Sabha election strategy.
He added that the agenda items for the meeting will probably include discussing how to go into the polls with alliance partner JD(S), how to properly coordinate the efforts of workers and leaders of both parties at the local level, and maybe even how many seats should go to the regional party.
Shah arrived in the “palace city” early today and is scheduled to take part in meetings with state BJP core committee members and leaders of the party’s Mysuru cluster later in the day.
He is also anticipated to visit the Chamundeshwari temple on the Chamundi hills and Sutturu Jathra (fair) in the nearby town of Sutturu.
“The meeting will see participation of 120 leaders from Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar Lok Sabha constituencies. Also there is a meeting with state BJP core committee, where discussions will be held on the strategy for upcoming Lok Sabha polls,” Vijayendra said.
Speaking to reporters at this location, he stated that since the BJP and JD(S) will be running for office jointly, it is imperative to make sure that there are no conflicts amongst their local organizers. This will also be a major topic of discussion during the meeting.
“We will strategise with an aim to win each constituency and seek the guidance of Amit Shah, who is known as election Chanakya,” he added.
The JD(S) and BJP have united and chosen to run jointly in the next Karnataka general elections. There is a seat-sharing agreement between the two groups.
In the 2019 elections, the BJP had taken 26 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats available in Karnataka, including Mandya independent Sumalatha Ambareesh, who was backed by the party. One seat each had been obtained by the Congress and the JD(S).
In response to a question about the BJP’s first meeting of this kind ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, which are scheduled to take place in Mysuru, the home district of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the state BJP chief stated that there is nothing unique about it and that the BJP and JD(S) are planning to win every seat in the state.
“Other than being Chief Minister’s home district, it (Mysuru) is the stronghold of BJP, as people have been supporting the party in the Lok Sabha polls… in Chamarajanagara constituency, we will have to find a new candidate with senior leader Srinivas Prasad (sitting MP) announcing political retirement and strategise to win the seat,” he said.
“In Mandya, under changed circumstances, we have heard discussions in the media about JD(S) asking for the seat, but no official discussions have taken place, all this will be discussed in today’s meetings,” he added.
