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May 20, 2013

India: RSS Man heads Madhya Pradesh BJP for 2013 assembly elections strategy

The Times of India

RSS man to lead BJP poll campaign strategy in MP
Suchandana Gupta, TNN | May 19, 2013, 09.17 PM IST

BHOPAL: Rajya Sabha MP Anil Madhav Dave will again lead the strategy room of the Madhya Pradesh BJP for 2013 assembly elections.

On Sunday afternoon, Anil Dave and state BJP president Narendra Singh Tomar met in the latter's official residence. News spread with lightning speed that the man who strategized the BJP victory in 2003 and 2008 was back to manage elections 2013. He also met chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Dave, an RSS organisational man, was the head of the BJP's Election Management Committee in 2003 when the party won the assembly polls with an astounding three-fourth majority defeating former chief minister Digvijay Singh-led Congress government.

In 2008, the ruling BJP went to polls again under the strategic guidance of Dave and came back to power for a second term. Anil Dave is known to be the brain behind the election campaign slogans that brought down the Digvijay Singh government in 2003. His slogan: "Janta mombatti mein aur Raja lal batti mein (the common man in candle light and the king in red beacon light)" developed a massive connect with voters as the state was grappling under a severe power crisis situation.

Speaking to TOI, Anil Dave confirmed: "The party is definitely in the election mode and I have been asked to take care of the party's management and campaign strategy." Though Dave is one of the most sought-after men in the BJP with approaching elections, yet his mind is also on the national scenario and Lok Sabha contest 2014.

"I will definitely be available for my party in Madhya Pradesh. This is my home pitch and my fundamental duty to work here. But there is also some activity happening in New Delhi where party national president Rajnath Singh is expected to fill-in some vital vacant posts there. I can't say for sure but maybe, I will have to work for both the assembly and the general elections," Dave explained.

According to Dave, the scene would be clear after the BJP's National Executive meet scheduled for June 8 and 9 in Goa. The national executive will discuss and fix responsibilities for the upcoming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Rajasthan. Sources in the state BJP office said that Dave could be made a national convener and his focus would then be divided between Madhya Pradesh assembly polls and Lok Sabha 2014.