BENGALURU: The losses in bypolls in Nanjangud and Gundlupet did not figure in the national executive meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bhubaneswar last week.
A member of the executive committee from Karnataka, who participated in two-day meet, told Deccan Chronicle that central leaders did not even mention about losing the by polls in the party forum in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and national president Amit Shah. In fact, the outcome of none of the by polls held across the country in which BJP won in six constituencies, also was discussed. The leaders focused on upcoming Assembly polls in Mr Modi’s home state, Gujarat, and in Himachal Pradesh and vowed to win in both states by employing a different strategy. “Since those two states are going to polls in October-November this year, the party leaders gave more impetus on winning in both states,” the member added.
The member said the meeting acknowledged BJP's victory in taluk and zilla panchayat polls in Odisha, as well as Assembly elections in five states including UP. Mr Shah, during his inaugural address, mentioned about plans to visit all states. But his visit to Karnataka was yet to be finalised.
The member felt the caste factor did not work for the BJP in Nanjangud and Gundlupet. Besides, state unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa and other leaders were overconfident about the outcome of these two by-elections.
