BJP completes phase I of poll preparations

The UPA government and its Left allies may be playing a cat and mouse game over the Indo-US nuclear deal but the BJP is not allowing grass to grow under its feet. The party has completed a major part of preparation for an anticipated mid-term election.

According to top sources in the party, a two-day meeting of state unit presidents and election prabharis has been called in New Delhi on November 15 to discuss the preparations for the election.

"We have already finalised a panel of candidates for over 350 constituencies," said a senior office-bearer of the party.

"There are three criteria on the basis of which the panels have been finalised "" their strength within the organisation, their history with the Sangh Parivar, and winnability, which we are gauging on the basis of a survey by an independent agency. Party President Rajnath Singh is closely monitoring the survey," said the office-bearer.

The party is also planning around 30 big rallies between December and January. "We are also in talks with several parties for pre- and post-poll alliances. After all, the difference between the Congress and us in the previous election was just six seats and it was the performance of the allies that went in their favour," he said.

He added several parties like the AIADMK, the Asom Gana Parishad and Om Prakash Chautala's Indian National Lok Dal had indicated that they would be amenable to a post-poll alliance. "They have their compulsions for not entering into a pre-poll alliance with us," said the office-bearer.

The party has also finalised some slogans and catch phrases for the campaign, some of which will be used by party spokespersons when they brief the media from this month.

"UPA stands for Ulta Pulta Alliance, belagam gatbandhan, nakaam sarkar (an alliance without control and a government that does not work) and sarkar ek, mukhia anek (one government, several chiefs) are just some of our slogans," said the office-bearer.