Modi likely to visit U’khand in Oct.

■ With polls in mind, PM to review projects around Kedarnath, Badrinath

With the Assembly polls in Uttarakhand just around the corner, BJP top brass, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is likely to visit the hill state next month. The PM could visit the pollbound state during the auspicious period of “Navratris” next month or before the portals of Kedarnath and Badrinath close in November. The PM will also review the ongoing development projects around Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines. A team from the PMO visited the two shrines on Thursday to oversee the development works.

Before Mr Modi, two senior Cabinet ministers defence minister Rajnath Singh and home minister Amit Shah are also expected to visit the state.

While Mr Singh is likely to visit on October 1, Mr Shah could visit during the third week. During his visit, Mr Singh will also inaugurate a memorial dedicated to freedom fighter and 'Peshawar revolt hero' Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali.

Mr Modi had last visited the shrines in 2019, a day ahead of the last phase of polling of the parliamentary elections.

The poll going state recently was given a third CM by the BJP top brass, after assessing the ruling party's poll prospects and also the “anti-incumbency” factor. Speculation has been rife that more than 35-40 per cent of its sitting MLAs, including some ministers, will be replaced.

Most opinion polls favour the BJP retaining power in the state.The main opposition Congress has been battling factionalism, with some of its senior leaders engaged in war of words.

Though BJP state leaders have been claiming that the party will go to polls under current CM Pushkar Singh Dhami’s leadership, BJP’s “star campaigner” Mr Modi’s visit will only boost the ruling party’s chances of retaining power.

PM Modi could visit the poll-bound state during the auspicious period of ‘Navratris’ next month or before the portals of Kedarnath and Badrinath close in November