Lucknow, 13 June 2013

So how was the first day of Amit Shah’s Uttar Pradesh visit after becoming state in-charge of BJP?

The core part of Shah’s visit was his meeting with state party office bearers.

Shah in this meeting said that weight of party leader will be measured through votes he ensures in his booth. Work on paper will not matter, but work on the ground will matter. Office bearers of party will need to go on rural visits for at least 20 days per month. They will need to submit a report on their visit to party. Active members shall adopt one booth. Candidates will not be allowed to contest election by exercising their separate system. Election will be fought through party organization. Forget Lok Sabha seat area, and focus on booths. Booth victories will ultimately ensure seat victory. For party work, blocks(mandals) will be formed. Block-presidents to state president, everyone will spend 20 days per month in organizational tours. The visits shall be well-planned and situation at booth level shall be reviewed during such visits. Shortcomings will be identified and fixed. The idea is about connecting more people to BJP. Party should reach every home. There shall be a committee for each of the 1,27,000 booths. For every five booth there shall be a shakti kendra. An active group will be associated with each shakti kendra.

Shah said he would be in Uttar Pradesh for 20 days per month, and he will not just limit himself to Lucknow, but will be on block level visits with party workers. He also will submit a report of his visit to party.

One of the decisions taken in the meeting was about fund collections. Shah directed partymen to collect at least Rs 1000 from each booth through coupons. He asked partymen to collect the fund above Rs 5,000 through cheque only. Right from the village level to state level, active members and office bearers shall be assigned responsibility of fund collection.

State party president Dr. Lakshmikant Vajpayee said that if some coupen is found missing, the partyman will be fined, and he will be declared unfit for organization for five years. He will not get any position, ticket or active membership for five years.

Shah said, thanks to media, people now know very well about corrupt Congress government in centre. Party workers now need to play their role to convert the anti-government sentiment into votes.

The meeting decided that state BJP will participate in jail bharo andolan on 26 June, and in each district, the agitation will be led by some prominent leader.

Shah met Kalyan Singh, Vinay Katiyar and Lalji Tandon during his visit. He had dinner at Lalji Tandon’s place with dashahari mango and kulfi in menu. Kalyan Singh and Kalraj Mishra also joined the dinner. After dinner, state president Dr. Lakshmikant Vajpayee and others left the place, but Shah stayed there and held a long meeting with Kalyan Singh, Saudan Singh and Tandon. Before this, Shah had paid visit to Kalyan Singh’s place and had 40 minuted talk with him. Shah had also visited Vinay Katiyar’s place.

Shah received grand welcome at Lucknow airport by party workers. In past, the state saw party in-charges like Sundarsinh Bhadndari, Kushabhau Thakre and Govindacharya, but none of them was given grand welcome like this. From airport, Amit Shah reached state party headquarters with state party chief Dr. Lakshmikant Vajpayee and held a meeting with state general secretaries. After that Shri Shah held a meeting with state office bearers, regional presidents, morcha presidents etc.