BJP's Delhi campaign on track despite Sadhvi row

Notwithstanding Union minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti’s fiery speech at a poll meeting in the national capital, BJP chief Amit Shah has decided to go ahead with the unprecedented engagement of 325 of the party's Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs to campaign for the Delhi Assembly elections.

Shah said at the parliamentary party meeting, held on Tuesday morning and attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his senior Cabinet colleagues, that 215 party MPs have given their convenient dates and preferred locations for the month-long campaigning in Delhi, which started from Monday.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy said at a press meeting that Shah had told the parliamentary party that MPs would have to hold 2,000 separate political meetings in the next 25 days as per roster. 

Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti has created a furore by using foul language at one such meeting. The issue paralysed Parliament's functioning, with Opposition parties demanding an FIR against her and her ouster from the government.

As per Shah's plan, BJP MPs will have to spare six working days for campaigning. They will also have to reach out to the electorate between 6 pm to 10 pm as per fixed schedule, said Rudy, quoting Shah.

Shah wants to utilise this period as the MPs are in delhi for the month-long winter session of Parliament. Evenings have been reserved for campaigning as the MPs would spend their day in Parliament, said BJP sources. 

Since the city is home to people from various castes and regions, Shah has circulated a letter among all the MPs—282 from Lower House and 43 from the Upper House—requesting them to let the party know their convenient dates and preferred locations for campaigning. 

Though Modi would be the BJP's face, Shah’s strategy is to project his MPs as “regional mascots” to identify with and attract people from different demographics. 

BJP sources said as per Shah’s electoral strategy, the MPs would engage with groups of 2,000 people in areas of their preference to inform them about the Modi government’s performance since coming to power in May. 

The BJP wants to reap political dividend even from the changing global perception about the country, as witnessed during Modi's US and Australia visits.