Twin agenda awaits Amit Shah's visit

HYDERABAD: As part of his efforts to strengthen the BJP in Telangana State and formulate strategies to realise the party's dreams of capturing power in the new State by 2019 polls, newly-appointed national boss of the BJP Amit Shah will descend on Hyderabad on Thursday.

During his two-day maiden visit to the city after assuming office as the BJP's national chief, Amit Shah is expected to formulate a road map to strengthen the party in the new State apart from focusing on regaining its 'past glory' in Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

The saffron party chief's visit to the State capital assumes political significance as it is happening days ahead of the bypoll to Medak Lok Sabha segment, which has fallen vacant following Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's resignation from the seat.

The saffron party's TS unit is planning to utilise Amit Shah's visit to Hyderabad to give a push to its plans to win the ensuing elections to GHMC.

In fact, the saffron party, despite playing a vital role in the formation of Telangana State, has failed to take advantage of it in the recent general elections in the State. It now sees the Medak LS bypoll as an opportunity to improve its electoral prospects in TS.

During his stay here, Shah, who played a key role in bringing the party to power at the Centre, is expected to prepare strategies for the Medak and GHMC polls.

BJP floor leader in the TS Assembly K Lakshman told that the main aim of Shah's visit to Hyderabad is to guide the local leaders in preparing strategies to strengthen the party in the State. Shah is expected to decide on the party candidate for the Medak by-election, slated for Sept 13.

While party Telangana unit chief G Kishan Reddy is the frontrunner for the seat, another leader M Raghunandan, who had unsuccessfully contested the general polls from Dubbaka Assembly segment on BJP ticket, is also in the race.

According to sources, Amit Shah would be meeting party's village presidents and laying a road map to strengthen the party at the grassroots level.

They would be asked to create awareness among people on the schemes of the Narendra Modi government. 'Amit Shah would be meeting State office-bearers and give them tips on strengthening the party at the booth and district level,' Lakshman told Express.

With TDP-BJP combine having 14 MLAs and two MPs in the GHMC limits, the saffron party is expecting a good number of seats in the polls to the GHMC.

Local party leaders believe their president's visit would boost the cadres' morale. Sources said as part of their plan to strengthen the party at GHMC level, the party leadership has now focused its attention on poaching second rung leaders such as corporators from the Congress and the TRS.