2019 elections to take place sooner? Here is what Amit Shah says

As 2018 as reached its halfway mark, 2019 election is to take place within a year. Or is to take place earlier than expected?

BJP national president Amit Shah on Friday asked Telangana state BJP leaders and cadre to fight against the “corrupt, undemocratic family rule” of the TRS government.

He hinted that there will be no early polls and Lok Sabha polls will be held as scheduled in April/May 2019. Amit Shah also stated that the BJP will try to initiate construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya before the general election.

Amit Shah held a day-long meeting with party leaders and activists here on Friday to discuss strengthening the party for the elections. He alleged that the TRS government is indulging in “minority vote bank politics” by raking up 12% quota for Muslims, which is not permissible under the Constitution. He asked party leaders and cadre to brace up to fight alone in all the 119 Assembly and 17 Lok Sabha seats. However, he kept alliance options open by stating that the national leadership of the party will take a call as and when the situation demands on who it will ally with and whether it will be pre-poll or post-poll alliance.

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“You don’t need to bother about alliances now. The party’s national leadership will take a call on these issues at an appropriate time. You should be prepared to fight in all 119 Assembly and 17 Lok Sabha seats alone. Party in-charges should be appointed in all the constituencies. Take up party activities in all the constituencies every day till elections. Try to get closer to people by fighting against anti-people policies of TRS government. The national party leadership will extend all the support for all of you in this endeavor,” Shah is learned to have said.

Shah promised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he would visit Telangana and address public meetings as frequently as possible before the 2019 elections. The meeting deliberated on ‘Target Telangana’ and ‘Mission 60 Plus’, with an aim to win 60 plus Assembly seats in Telangana to form a government on its own.

The meeting also discussed the TRS moving closer to the MIM. Party leaders felt that a pre-poll tie-up with the TRS would not be possible due to its ties with the MIM and it can think about a post-poll alliance depending on the outcome of the election.