Modi rally likely in Jammu on Mar 28

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 22

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to formally kick-start the Lok Sabha election campaign in the state by addressing a public meeting in the Jammu region on March 28.

Although the BJP leadership is tightlipped about the rally, Modi’s visit has almost been finalised and he is likely to address a public meeting near Akhnoor on Thursday.

Sources said the PM’s visit was finalised following repeated requests of the state party unit to the high command. “Unofficially, the PM had already launched the poll drive in J&K on February 3 during a rally at Vijaypur, but the state unit has urged the high command to arrange another rally in Jammu district to boost the election campaign,” a senior party leader, wishing anonymity, told The Tribune. “The rally is likely to be held in the Raipur-Domana Assembly segment so as to mobilise people from the rural belt of the Jammu region,” he said.

The sources said earlier the BJP high command had refused to spare time from the PM’s busy schedule for a public meeting. After an intense pressure from the state unit, the high command ultimately agreed to it.

“With elected representatives facing credibility deficit with local electorate in some areas, the party is desperately trying to cash in on Modi’s popularity,” the senior leader said.

Meanwhile, BJP spokesman Sunil Sethi said most of the Congress leaders were running away from contesting elections due to the fear of losing in “Modi tsunami”.

“The Congress is trying to persuade its senior leaders from Jammu to contest elections, but they are running away from it. They are giving excuses, but in reality they know that people of Jammu will never go with the party whose leaders are making statements against national interests and the armed forces,” he said.