BJP to flash youth card in capital

ABVP members celebrate their victory in this year's DUSU polls. The RSS wants members of its youth wing to take their message to Delhi's young voters.

The lotus is all set to get younger in Delhi. Ahead of the Assembly elections in the Capital, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has chalked a clear strategy for the Bharatiya Janata Party: flash the youth card to attract one and all. In at least 35 Assembly seats out of the 70 seats, the Sangh wants BJP to field young candidates, handpicked from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. With that the Sangh has tasked the youth brigade to spread the message of 'Bharatiya values', which shall promote respect for women. 'Mission Delhi' will be driven by youth power, which will ensure that sobriety prevails among the youngsters, who shall shun public display of affection, vulgarity and all that which ails the society today. Contrary to the uncouth gimmickry of the Aam Aadmi Party and directionless politics of the Congress, BJP will unleash its youth force with surgical precision.

The aim is clear: to get BJP back in power in Delhi. Both the Sangh and BJP are aware that a young electorate is a strong force that cannot be ignored. And so, BJP wants to do everything to reach out to the young voters. From unleashing the youth fashion brigade - with designer khadi kurta, caps and denims (as recently reported by MAIL TODAY), to young faces as party candidates, BJP will leave no stone unturned. And the Sangh is just ensuring that.

"If you look at the entire demography of the city, then the youth comprises 40 per cent of the total population. It is that one resource which needs to be tapped into. We have some young members in Parliament and this time, out of a 70-member Assembly in Delhi, we are aiming for 35 seats to be allocated to young legislators," said Nandkishore Garg, member of RSS' national executive.

The ABVP too echoed the Sangh's sentiments, saying that for a government to be successful in the Capital, it is important to usher in change which only the youth is capable of bringing in. "We have been working tirelessly in each election. We feel it is time for younger leaders to take charge because only the younger leaders have the wherewithal to bring in changes that people want to see," said Rohit Chahal, ABVP's national secretary.

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, young BJP leader Parvesh Verma emerged as the winner from West Delhi. According to observers, his victory clearly indicated that young faces, with fresh ideas and energy, are capable of winning for the party. And that message is ringing out loud across the Sangh and BJP.

Several BJP leaders on Saturday began their political journey from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Their experiences as ABVP members readied them to take up bigger responsibilities as BJP leaders. Senior BJP leaders like Arun Jaitley, Vijay Goel, Vijender Gupta, Vijay Jolly and Satish Upadhyay are the best examples of how youth power can gradually mature to carry forward the ideals of BJP. Taking a cue from their performances, the Sangh has decided that the best strategy is to bank on the ABVP to usher in good days in the Capital, both for the party and the people in general.

"Usually one-third of the members from Delhi University Students' Union make their way into active politics. The RSSBJP youth wing, ABVP, grooms people in such a way that they become able politicians. Several of our senior leaders, such as Arun Jaitleyji and Satish Upadhyayji, also started out from there. That platform is created for them to gain enough experience," Garg added. ABVP - which has been the leading students' group in Delhi University - wrested control from NSUI in all the four seats for the second time this year. At the same time, it made a significant dent in Jawaharlal Nehru University as well after it came in a close second, giving a stiff competition to the All India Students Association.

"The youth is the powerhouse of energy in this city. Ignoring that section of the population will be wrong. We are already reaching out to the youth through several membership drives and other measures. ABVP is also doing a good job at the university level and their performances in the last two university elections have been very reassuring," said Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay. "We cannot comment on whom we will field from which constituency. But certainly youth participation always gives an impetus to the party to establish a stronger connect with the people," he added.

Besides wielding the youth force in Delhi, both Sangh and the party want that the 'Bharatiya values' are inculcated among today's youth. Delhi has the ill reputation of being an unsafe city for women. The shameful tag of 'rape capital' has tarnished the city to an extent that seems beyond repair. With a precise aim to rid the city of that darkness, the Sangh has directed that the young faces of the party spread the message of sobriety.

"The youth of the city and the country must possess good character, so that they can carry our ideology forward. Whatever they do must be well balanced," said Garg.

"The youth has the freedom to love, but misusing that freedom and indulging in public display of affection or vulgarity invites trouble. They need to uphold the values that their families instill in them and be careful on how they behave and dress in public too. All of these would be a small attempt to ensure that Delhi is not associated as the 'rape capital'," he added.

With this strategy in mind, the party, sources say, is going full throttle to win Delhi. It will be a young, sober and energetic BJP that will knock on the doors, seeking support from everyone who believes in the power of lotus - gentle yet strong, fresh yet mature.