Senior BJP leader L K Advani and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will stay away from the party’s rally in Bangalore on Monday to mark the culmination of its “Vijay sankalpa yatra.”
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj who was scheduled to attend the convention may also stay away due to “health reason,” party sources said. The BJP had launched the ‘Vijay sankalpa yatra,’ convention to motivate party workers last month, ahead of the Assembly polls.
An estimated one lakh party workers are expected to participate in the rally to be held at the Palace Grounds. The rally will be addressed by National President Rajnath Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and the state BJP top brass.
Intense speculation
There is intense speculation whether Modi, who is being projected as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, will give sufficient time to campaign in the State. Modi apparently does not want to sully his image by campaigning in a state facing stiff anti-incumbency.
The Gujarat chief minister, who was recently elevated to the party’s central parliamentary board and its main election committee, had stayed away from the meeting in Delhi to finalise the first list of candidates for the polls.
However, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and BJP State President Pralhad Joshi are on record stating that Modi will campaign in the State. His poll programme is yet to be finalised. Modi will be in New Delhi on Sunday to address a programme organised by FICCI’s women’s wing.
Advani sore
Advani, last month, had criticised the “wavering and unprincipled handling” of the State during the tenure of B S Yeddyurappa as chief minister.