BJP PLANS ITS CAMPAIGN BLITZ AHEAD OF ELECTIONS

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to push a campaign blitzkrieg in Gujarat on November 18 with several Union ministers and senior party leaders instructed to address rallies and small public meetings in at least three assembly constituencies each on that day, a party functionary aware of the plan said on Wednesday.

Gujarat, which has 182 seats, goes to the polls in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will be held on December 8.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several BJP leaders are slated to campaign in the state but the party has also instructed senior ministers to join the “carpet bombing” later this week, a party functionary said on condition of anonymity.

Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP president J P Nadda are among those likely to attend public programmes.

“The party relies on door-todoor canvassing, rallies, small gatherings, and events centred around programmes of the PM, such as his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat, to reach out to the masses. This year too, ahead of the first phase of polling, we will have senior leaders and ministers spread out across the state,” the functionary said.

The BJP is looking to secure a seventh electoral victory in Modi and Shah’s home state.