It’s strategic time-out for Cong, BJP ahead of LS poll

The two national parties – the Congress and the BJP - have started preparations for the Lok Sabha polls by sanctioning independent surveys and collecting inputs from the grassroots level.

The two parties are also finetuning their micro-management election strategy, while the regional party JD(S) is planning to make electoral gains by claiming credit for the mega Rs 44,000-crore crop loan waiver scheme. The state sends 28 members to the Lok Sabha.

The Congress is anticipating early polls in December and has already instructed its functionaries and workers to start preparations.

The party leadership is of the opinion that the BJP top brass is worried about opposition unity and will not to wait for May next year, when the elections are due, for the fear that they will not be able to win as many seats as in 2014.

KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao has started holding meetings with office bearers, district unit presidents almost on a daily basis.

Reports on the functioning of district and block units have been sought by August 15, after which there will be a revamp, sources in the party said. The party will hold a series of ‘Shakti’ conventions in the coming weeks to strengthen the rapport between workers at the grassroots and state functionaries.

The two parties have commissioned independent surveys to know the pulse of the people. Feedback is being obtained from local leaders as a prelude to shortlisting candidates.

BJP national president Amit Shah is expected to visit Bengaluru soon after the monsoon session of Parliament in August and unveil a roadmap and strategy for the Lok Sabha polls. Booth-level committees are likely to be revamped in the coming weeks.

The party is planning to hold rallies across the state to spread awareness about welfare programmes like Jan Dhan and Mudra loan launched by the Modi government. It may try to gain sympathy of the electorate for being unable to form a government in the state.

The BJP emerged as the single largest party winning 104 seats falling short of the magic number of 113, after which the JD(S) and Congress formed a coalition government.

The JD(S) has told the Congress that it is keen on contesting from eight to 10 Lok Sabha seats.

The JD(S) has sought that its candidates be allowed to contest from Hassan, Mandya, Chikkaballapur, Mysuru-Kodagu, Tumukuru in south Karnataka and Bidar and Vijayapura in the north among others with the support of the Congress. However, nothing is finalised.

The stakes may not be very high for the JD(S). Yet, the party is keen on improving its tally from 2014.