LS polls: Narendra Modi to face multi-pronged attack in Gujarat

As the election campaigning picks up, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is all set to face a multi-pronged attack in his home state with a battery of political heavy-weights from major parties like Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and JD (U) arriving in Gujarat starting April 21.  Even the senior leaders of the Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are going to camp in Gujarat from next week and campaign in various parts of the state.

The onslaught is likely to begin from April 21 with a public meeting of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav in Patan district of north Gujarat. Former UP chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav followed by Jaya Bachchan,  are also likely to address a couple of rallies in Gujarat next week.

Two public meetings of Congress president Sonia Gandhi have been scheduled on April 24. “Soniaji is likely to address public meeting in Valsad district in south Gujarat and Kheralu block in north Gujarat,” said sources in the Gujarat Congress. He said that Gandhi’s political advisor Ahmed Patel has already landed in Gujarat and will be holding meetings at local levels in south and north Gujarat regions. While Gandhi would be addressing public rallies, senior Congress leaders like prime minister Manmohan Singh and finance minister P Chidambaram will be engaged in closed door meetings with industrialists and various other stakeholders. They are also expected to meet community leaders and religious leaders in Gujarat during their visit next week. Chidambaram and Singh are also likely to address the local media during their visit and address various issues on development and counter Modi’s claims in the state.

When asked about Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s campaign in Gujarat, Congress sources said, “Rahulji’s programme has not been finalised as yet. But he will definitely be campaigning in Gujarat.” Young Congress leaders like Sachin Pilot and Jyotiraditya Scindia are also expected to campaign after April 24.

JD(U) president Sharad Yadav and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar are also scheduled to take on Modi on his home turf in the later part of next week. “Though the dates are not fixed yet, but they are certainly coming to campaign in Gujarat,” said JD(U) sources.

Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati had decided not to campaign in Gujarat. Instead her five deputies, who have been made incharge of the state will be holding meeting and discussions across the state. The party also does not plan to hold any roadshow or public meeting, said BSP Gujarat convenor Bachubhai Patel.

AAP has also announced its star campaigners who will be taking on BJP in Gujarat. These include national secretary Pankaj Gupta, New Delhi candidate Ashish Khetan, national spokesperson Yogendra Yadav, East Delhi candidate Rajmohan Gandhi, Lok Sabha PAC member Sanjay Singh and senior Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan. Kejriwal is likely to focus on Varansi seat where he will be contesting against Modi.

However, the Gujarat BJP is unperturbed with leaders of national parties coming to Gujarat. “We have our own heavyweights like party president Rajnth Singh, Arun Jaitely, Sushma Swaraj and former president Nitin Gadkari who will be campaigning for the party after April 24,” said BJP media cell convenor Harshad Patel.

According to BJP sources, even Modi is not likely to address rallies in Gujarat till April 24. He instead was using the 3D holographic projection technology to reach out to people in different constituencies of Gujarat.