BJP eyes 'grassroots' opposition workers in UP

The BJP has decided to focus on the social media and "grassroots" workers of Opposition parties to "nullify" a possible grand alliance comprising the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and some other parties in Uttar Pradesh.

The BJP had opened its doors for rival leaders in the 2014 Lok Sabha and 2017 Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and reaped rich electoral dividends.

According to the BJP leaders, the saffron party was not, like in 2014 and 2017, in favour of bringing Opposition leaders this time.

"We rather welcome genuine, grassroots workers, who can efficiently look after booth management," said a senior UP BJP leader.

The leader said that BJP president Amit Shah had also conveyed this message to the party workers and leaders during his meetings with them in Mirzapur and Agra on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

Shah also asked the workers to use the social media platforms extensively to reach out to the masses and convey to them the Centre's achievements.

Shah reportedly told party leaders to be ready to take on the SP-BSP alliance. "The only way we can nullify the SP-BSP alliance is to prepare an army of dedicated and loyal workers at the grassroots level and better booth management," the BJP leader said, quoting Shah.

He said the BJP national president stressed over the need to increase the saffron party vote share and take it to over 50%.

The party president asked workers to ensure a healthy turnout and also asked the BJP voters to go out and exercised their franchise. "One of the main reasons behind our defeat in Phulpur, Gorakhpur and Kairana LS by-polls was the low turnout," the leader remarked.

In the meetings held by Shah during his two-day visit to the state, he cautioned workers against taking the SP-BSP alliance lightly.