BJP steps up Gujarat effort aiming to repeat 26 of 26 Lok Sabha seats in 2019

The BJP was under pressure to repeat its clean sweep of all 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat, the Prime Minister’s home state, in the 2019 election, particularly after its weak showing in the recent assembly polls in the Hindi heartland. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended two events in the state last week, while party president Amit Shah met Hindu saints and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in Rajkot.

Modi’s message to party workers

One of the Prime Minister’s engagements was the 53rd conference of police chiefs, an official event; the other was a political gathering of the BJP’s Mahila Morcha. Addressing the women’s wing, Modi spoke about his government’s schemes and urged members to reach voters widely under the slogan “Mera booth sabse majboot” (My booth is the strongest). The message was that workers should know every voter in their booth personally and spread awareness of government schemes.

At the police chiefs’ conference

At the DGP conference, Modi addressed internal security issues, asked police forces to build trust among all communities and stressed coordination between states in tackling crime. According to an official statement, later posted on his Twitter account, he cautioned that divisive elements were exploiting caste fault lines for short-term gain and urged the strengthening of forces that promote unity. Caste polarisation had hurt the BJP in Gujarat in 2017, with Patidars and Dalits largely voting against the party.

Shah’s meetings

In Rajkot, Shah discussed the Ram temple issue with the sadhus and the RSS chief and was reported to have promised them the temple would come up in Ayodhya.

What happened next

In the 2017 Gujarat assembly election the BJP had won 99 seats and the Congress 77. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election the BJP won 303 of 543 seats nationally.

See also: Bharatiya Janata Party · Gujarat Vidhan Sabha members

Originally published on 26 December 2018. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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