| The party's chief ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, has already carried out a publicity blitz. The formal launch will see unveiling of slogans and campaign material. |
| In another indication that Modi is ready for the elections, his main detractor in the BJP, Keshubhai Patel, who was in New Delhi today, would be going on a trip to Agra and the United States to remain outside the state during the polls. Patel recently referred to Modi as Ravana but the BJP leaders are hoping he keeps himself from the campaign. |
| Sources said after the Tehelka tapes, which showed political leaders talking about their role in the Gujarat riots, it would be foolish for the party not to play the Hindutva card. |
| "A campaign focusing only on development will not win votes, and has been tested to be unreliable. An emotive campaign always works," said a top source in the party. |
| A film on Modi and Gujarat by an "independent" film-maker has already been released. "We will have catchy slogans, short and snappy. No long and old-fashioned slogans will be used," said the source. |
| The Gujarat elections have become a prestige issue for both the Congress and the BJP, with the latter suffering from severe dissidence and the former a crisis of leadership. Both have staked a lot on the outcome. |
| In another development, Lok Janshakti Party President Ram Vilas Paswan said his party was keen to contest the polls in Gujarat as a Congress ally. |
| "I have written to Congress President Sonia Gandhi in which I have said that my party is keen to contest along with Congress," said Paswan, who is also Union chemicals and fertiliser minister. |
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