Shah reaches out to northeastern states to expand BJP's base

BJP President Amit Shah today exhorted people of Manipur and other Northeastern states to join BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership to take the region towards speedy development and bring an end to corruption.
Addressing a public meeting here, Shah said only BJP can provide a corruption-free government that can usher in development in the region and added that the BJP-led central government has earmarked over Rs 1,900 crore for development of the northeastern region.
He also sought public support for BJP candidates in the Autonomous District Hill Council election in May.
Shah earlier reached here after undertaking a five-hour road journey from Dimapur, where he spent the entire day yesterday meeting with party leaders and workers.

The BJP chief, who is on a four-day visit to the north eastern states, was supposed to travel by chopper but had to take the over 200-km mountainous road route due to bad weather.
Shah, accompanied by party's general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal and senior leader Tapir Gao, is touring the northeastern region to strengthen the party base and connect with the people there.

He told the people of Manipur that after travelling by road through the countryside he could understand the problems of the area and its people. He said the area had tremendous tourism potential to harness and can attract tourists from all over the world.

Shah also asked people to connect the people, especially the tribal population, with the Jan-Dhan Scheme to help integrate them in the country's financial system.
The BJP President has met party leaders in Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland. He visited Mizoram on Thursday and Nagaland yesterday during his four-day visit.
Shah will inaugurate the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Hall at the party's office in Manipur tomorrow, Tapir Gao said, adding that thereafter he will return to the national capital.
The visit is aimed at expanding BJP's base and make the membership drive successful, besides hearing the problems of the people of the region.

During his interaction with party workers, Shah has been asking them to take central schemes to the public, including tribals in the area, and usher in development of the region.
The BJP chief has previously said that his party's government will develop the entire northeast region and bring it on par with other parts of the country, besides improving its connectivity with rest of India.