BJP at its best to make up for Kalyan's exit

Aiming to mitigate the damage of Kalyan Singh's exit from the party, Uttar Pradesh BJP has launched an exercise asking backward leaders to apprise people of their community about party's policies and programmes to ensure their support in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

"Backward leaders, especially Lodha leaders, having areas of influence in various constituencies have been asked to launch a public contact (programme) and tell them as to how the party had always stood up to their cause. This is to ensure that they continue to support the BJP despite Kalyan Singh factor," party sources said.

The party is aware that Kalyan Singh was its most popular face in the state and is vigilant that his departure does not have any adverse impact on the electoral fortunes of the party, sources said.

The electorate has to be told that backwards, especially Lodhas, have always been with the BJP even in the days of Jansangh and leaders of the caste had also occupied high positions in the organisation, the sources said.

State leadership has been holding informal talks with these leaders to take the feedback on the exit of Kalyan and formulate the strategy accordingly, they said.

Lodhas are a dominating caste in central and western parts of the state and in about 17 Lok Sabha constituencies, they are present in sizable numbers.