Hyderabad

BJP would emerge as a major political force in Telangana in next four years, its President Amit Shah here today claimed.

The party’s chief who has been focused on expanding its reach in southern and eastern states, expressed confidence in assuming a stronghold in the state in next few years.

“I never think negatively. Our core team has made a strategy today and will make in future as well…You watch…in four years BJP will become the main political force in Telangana,” Shah told reporters.

The senior leader was here to take stock of party’s membership drive and also its growth in the newly formed state.

Telangana, where BJP has targeted to enrol 35 lakh new members, has been identified as one of the important states in South where it aims to grow as a major force in the coming years.

BJP had been a consistent supporter of the separate statehood demand and had won one Lok Sabha seat and five Assembly seats in Telangana in 2014 elections in alliance with the TDP.

Asked about political alliances, Shah said local BJP unit would come with a decision on the matter.

Replying to a query, he said the NDA government does not discriminate among states and treats all alike.

Shah is scheduled to leave for Vijayawada today where he will hold similar strategy-making meetings for party’s growth in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

The BJP president held a meeting with the party’s Telangana unit leaders, district functionaries and others later in the day.

Briefing reporters on the meeting, BJP’s floor leader in Telangana legislative assembly K Laxman said the new state holds promise for the party in the South after Karnataka.

BJP in Telangana would work keeping in mind the 2019 polls, he added.

Assembly polls in the state were held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls last year.

Shah has asked senior leaders to prepare a roadmap for the party’s growth in the state by end of this month or early February so that it can be implemented from March, Laxman said.

Stressing on the need to strengthen the party structure, Shah asked important leaders to take the party to the booth-level in Telangana, he said.

The BJP chief pointed out that it did well in the 2014 polls in places where it is organisationally strong.

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