The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
‘Modi in MP’, ‘MP in Modi’: It’s PM all the way for the BJP in state elections, as he starts with a letter to voters
UNDERLINING A poll campaign to retain power in Madhya Pradesh that is centred around the charisma of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP on Thursdayreleaseda‘ Modijikichitthi( Modi’sletter)’ forthepeople.
The BJP has also unveiled a campaign theme whose tagline is‘ Mpkemannmeinmodi( Modi in the hearts of MP)’. On Wednesday, thepartyflaggedoff vans modified as chariots from Bhopal that carried the slogan, andreleasedcampaignsongsall seeking votes in the PM'S name.
The letter written by Modi will be distributed across all 64,523 polling booths in the state, said a BJP leader, who added that Modi had addressed nine rallies in MP in the 2018 Assembly elections, and would address more this time.
The PM seeks votes directly inhisname, highlightingthedevelopment done in the state in 20yearsof Bjpruleanddrawing attention to the “double-engine sarkar”. It also accentuates the factthatthepartydoesnothave a chief ministerial face.
Oneofthesongstobeplayed in BJP publicity vehicles goes: “Modi ke mann mein basey MP, Mpkemannmeinmodi (Mpisin theheartof Modi, andmodiisin the heart of MP).”
Onwednesday, thestatebjp also posted a video on X asking voterstoelecta“modi-bjp” government in the state.
Expectedly, Modi towers overallotherpartyleadersinthe campaign material.
The party has also compiled datatoclaim thatthe Modigovernment has taken more care of the state than the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government, includingthatmodihastouredthe
PTI statefivemoretimescompared. “The Modi government has given more than Rs 1 lakh crore forvariousprojectsinmp. Onthe other hand, the Singh government allotted schemes worth only Rs 14,929 crore,” reads one of the data points, which also contain the dates of Modi’s visits to the state.
This data sheet has been sharedwithpartyworkers, with instructions to highlight it duringdoor-to-doorcampaignsand public meetings.
BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathisaid,“thepartyisusing the achievements of Modiji because the people trust him and his name and face impresses them the most.” BJP state governments work under his leadership, he added.
Congress spokesperson K K Mishradescribedthebjp’smodicentric campaign as a trap. “Misdeeds of Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s 18 years as CM have been exposed. Hence, the BJP is tryingtodivertattention. Wewill focus on Chouhan,” he said.