Hyderabad: BJP national president Amit Shah will set a target of 20-lakh members for the Telangana BJP, about four times the existing base of 4.5 lakh members of the party in the state.

This is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Shah’s plan to capture power in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the 2019 general elections. Mr Shah arrives here on Wednesday night.

Local BJP leaders feel they can swing it. “Amit Shah has a one-point agenda: The membership drive and strengthening the party so that the BJP can come to power in the future.

From the present 4.5 lakh membership, we plan to increase it to 20 lakh on the back of the odi wave,” Mr G. Kishan Reddy, Telangana BJP president, told this newspaper.

Mr Shah, who is against any ostentation, will stay at Paryatak Bhavan, the government tourism guest house at Begumpet during his two days here.

“Amit Shah will hold a meeting of the state advisory committee comprising a dozen leaders besides office bearers of all Telangana districts,” he said.

From the city, Mr Shah will fly to Vijayawada to meet party leaders in Andhra Pradesh. Here too the BJP intends to strengthen its base with an eye on the 2019 elections.

Mr Shah would also poll the opinion on TS and AP leaders for ideas to strengthen the party in the two states.

The party has attracted Congress leaders and is wooing others including, reportedly, former chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy.