Andhra Pradesh poses a peculiar problem for the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is riding high on the success of its Hindutva plank in the recent election in Gujarat.
"We are neither in government nor in opposition here," BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu quipped, but assured that the BJP's growth would not be at the expense of the Telugu Desam Party, the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh and the BJP's ally at the Centre.
Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad, Naidu said, "The BJP and the TDP together got 50 percent votes in the last elections in 1999 and we still have lot of space to grow."
When asked about the party's strategy to gain strength in Andhra Pradesh, Naidu said the party has convened a two-day strategy session of the state unit at Visakhapatnam from Thursday.
Naidu pointed out that such strategy sessions would be held in every state to work out strategies to expand the party base all over the country.
Venkaiah Naidu said the constituents and allies of the National Democratic Alliance have nothing to fear from the BJP's plans to grow faster. "Why should anyone be afraid? Every party is free to expand its mass base at whatever speed it likes to grow."
He said the BJP's victory in Gujarat assembly elections was quite encouraging and the party has begun preparations for the next round of assembly elections in nine states next year.
Naidu said the party's national executive reviewed the nation-wide membership drive of the party and decided to extend it till January 31 of the coming year.
Verification of membership would be done from February 1 to 20 while active membership drive would be taken up from February 21 to March 15.
The party would hold district-wise political conferences to strengthen its base. "This is a prelude to Parliament elections and our target is to reach 300 seats in 2004," he pointed out.
