BJP to cash in on Vajpayee’s goodwill to attract voters

Although Vajpayee’s next birth anniversary is about one month away,the walls at the BJP’s state headquarters here are already covered with banners,hoardings and posters wishing him a long life. The election campaign material put on sale in the BJP office campus also has his photographs displayed prominently.

Vajpayee’s photo was also used liberally on the posters of the two Jan Swabhiman Yatras which the BJP took out in the state recently. During a rally in Ayodhya on November 17,Gadkari had appealed to the people to recall the days of the Vajpayee government and vote the BJP to power in UP so that ‘Ram Rajya’ could be established once again. Party leaders said they will keep the focus on Vajpayee in all campaigns right up to the elections.

Explaining the reason for using Vajpayee’s name,a senior party leader said: “There are over a dozen senior national and state leaders in UP but none of them has such wide acceptance in the masses as Atalji had.”

He said that most BJP leaders have little appeal outside their own communities and areas. Former MP chief minister Uma Bharti may have a somewhat wider appeal,but that is about all. Former chief minister Rajnath Singh may be the best bet as he is known all over the state,but he too does not quite measure up,the party leader said,and added: “It was precisely for this reason that the party decided not to project anyone as chief minister.”

Beginning December 1,the party is launching a fortnight-long “BJP lao,Pradesh bachao” campaign during which pamphlets highlighting the work of the Vajpayee government — like keeping the prices of essential commodities in check,loans for farmers on low interest rate,scheme of giving foodgrain for work and construction of village roads — will be distributed. All these will carry Vajpayee’s photographs on the top.

“Party workers will knock on every door and distribute these pamphlets while senior leaders will hold public meetings in each Assembly constituency,” said Mahendra Singh,state party vice-president and co-convener of the “BJP lao-Pradesh bachao” campaign.

The party is also going observe “Atal Sankalp Diwas” from December 25 to 27 to mark Vajpayee’s 88th birth anniversary on December 25. The first volume of “Samagra Atalji” project will be released in Lucknow on the eve of his birth anniversary. The project invovles collection and documentation of photographs,letters,write-ups,interviews,poems,speeches and videos of the former prime minister.