BJP national executive: Party to focus on states crucial for its fortunes in 2019

Having reclaimed power in Uttar Pradesh after 15 years, the BJP will now turn its focus to the states where it has been traditionally weak but which are critical to determine its fortunes in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as its national executive meet begins in Odisha on Saturday.

Gaining strength in the eastern states is on the top of BJP president Amit Shah's to-do list now. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, besides Shah himself are likely to give a call for pushing the party's expansion in the new territories.

After arriving in the city, Amit Shah paid tributes to dalit icon Bhim Rao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary and later joined his state party colleagues in celebrating the Odia new year. The BJP organised a motorcycle rally to welcome him.

He was also presented with a garland of 74 "victory flowers", a reference to the majority mark in the 147-seat Odisha assembly.

The BJP has also planned a virtual road show for Modi when he arrives here on Saturday. He is likely to be greeted at several places on his road travel from the airport to Raj Bhavan.