The stage is set for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive meeting here over the weekend, during which the party leadership is expected to strategise on further expanding its organisational base.
During the April 15-16 meeting, the party would focus on expanding its base especially in states where its performance in the last Lok Sabha and Assembly polls had been dismal.
The BJP leaders are upbeat about making its presence felt in Odisha and other areas, which were earlier seen as weak for the saffron outfit.
Following its spectacular performance in the panchayat polls in Odisha, the party is to strategise to dethrone the Naveen Patnaik government, which is in power since last 17 years, said a BJP leader.
The BJP leadership is also likely to deliberate on preparing a road-map for the 2019 general elections.
"We want to strengthen our base in Odisha as well as other states. The party will deliberate on this," said Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states and several senior party leaders would attend the executive meeting.
Modi is to felicitate members of 16 families associated with the Paika rebellion of 1817 during the meet. Paika rebellion is considered as the first armed mutiny against the British rule in the state. The move is expected to boost the BJP's standing in the state.
The capital city has been decked up for the meet with roads getting a facelift and hoardings, banners and flags seen all over.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up across the city ahead of the two-day visit of the Prime Minister.
"A total of 100 platoons of police and two companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be deployed in the city. Besides, four IG rank officers will be in-charge of the five sectors in which Bhubaneswar has been divided for security reasons," said Director General of Police (DGP) K.B. Singh.
Special Protection Group (SPG) officers will also provide support to the four IG rank officers to provide security cover to the Prime Minister, he added.
The security personnel on Thursday carried out a dress rehearsal of the Prime Minister's convoy from the city airport to Raj Bhavan and to Janata Maidan, where the executive meeting will be held.
--IANS
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