This Article is From Sep 23, 2016

BJP's National Council Meeting: Pakistan, Pro-Poor Program Tops Agenda

BJP's National Council Meeting: Pakistan, Pro-Poor Program Tops Agenda

BJP president Amit Shah will preside over the party's national council meeting in Kerala.

Kozhikode: Bharatiya Janata Party's three-day long national council meeting began today in Kozhikode, Kerala.
Senior leaders will hold discussions to give a final shape to the party's agenda ahead of crucial state elections next year. They will also discuss a strategy to deal with Pakistan in the wake of the Uri terror attack.

BJP president Amit Shah will chair the national council meeting, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Kozhikode on Saturday and will address party leaders on Sunday. It will be the Prime Minister's first such address after the Uri terror attack last week.

Earlier the BJP had said that the concept of 'Antyodaya' - helping the most destitute - championed its ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay will be the overall theme of their deliberations. Other issues like political strategy ahead of assembly elections next year and implementation of Goods and Services Tax will also be discussed.

2016 is the birth centenary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, and his 100th birth anniversary falls on September 25. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a year-long program to celebrate the former BJP president's centenary year.

The party is expected to articulate its 'garib kalyan' agenda which will reach out to marginalized groups like Dalits and OBCs ahead of next year's elections in key states including Uttar Pradesh.

The party will also deliberate over a strategy for assembly elections, in several states, due next year. The BJP has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for over 14 years, and Mr Shah has claimed that it will make a comeback this year, with a thumping majority.

The meet will also focus on increased cases of violence against BJP cadres and those of its ideological mentor RSS in Kerala. Party leadership has blamed CPI(M) for these incidents.
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