BJP Will Rule Telangana From 2019: Amit Shah

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah expressed confidence that his party would form the next government in Telangana after the 2019 elections.

Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad on Thursday, Shah said that the BJP would strengthen its roots in the new state by enrolling 35 lakh members.

He claimed that several youth had enrolled themselves as members, and that the party's online membership drive had been getting a good response.

He informed that the membership drive, from the booth level, would be intensified further from January 12.

Shah denied allegations that the BJP government at the Centre was neglecting Telangana while giving preference to Andhra Pradesh. He said that the Centre had been giving equal treatment to all the states, irrespective of the party-in-power in those states.

When asked about Nizamabad MP and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's daughter K Kavitha being made a brand ambassador of the Swachch Bharat campaign, Shah said that it was not a political move, and that the TRS had not sent any feelers of wanting to join the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

The BJP President said that the Central government was focused on the implementation of all the promises that it had made to the people during the election campaign. He claimed that the promised "Achche Din" (good days) were not very far. Stating that the petrol and diesel rates had come down at least 10 times during the last seven months, he claimed that the BJP government would also bring down the prices of essential commodities soon.

He said that the best policy decisions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had enabled the common people to save Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,500 every month.

Shah also listed out the various schemes being successfully implemented by the BJP government at the Centre.

With regard to the formation of the government in Jammu & Kashmir, he said that negotiations were on with different parties, and a clear picture would emerge by next week.

He maintained that there were no immediate plans to scrap Article 370.

Speaking about the religious conversions issue, Shah evaded a direct reply on the 'Ghar Wapasi' campaign by some leaders of the Sangh Parivar, including the BJP.

He said that BJP did not endorse the views being expressed by some individual leaders.

He admitted that the recent statements by some newly-elected members had caused damage to the party's image. However, he said that the BJP government wanted to bring a new legislation to prevent religious conversions, but that other political parties were not supporting the move.

He also refused to comment on the recent speech made by MIM President Asaduddin Owaisi. (INN)