With multiple surveys, including internal party surveys, not giving a clear majority to the BJP but predicting a hung verdict in the State, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to increase his visits.
A day after he kick-started his campaign in the State addressing three rallies, BJP rescheduled his campaign and he will now address 21 rallies, instead of the 15 as scheduled earlier. This is a clear indication that the party is heavily reliant on the Prime Minister to give it the final push.
A senior leader said the party had asked for more Modi rallies since it felt he was their “best bet to galvanise the voters” in the absence of any wave this election, to prevent a hung verdict. “Every Modi rally sets the news and political agenda as was evident on Tuesday, which is what we want over the next 10 days. This will help us snatch the narrative from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. This is not about being jittery, but consolidating our gains,” he said. Mr. Modi’s schedule for Thursday remains unchanged and he will address three rallies in Kalaburagi, Ballari and Bengaluru. He will tour the State on Friday and Saturday and will address four rallies each day. With a day’s break, he will hit the campaign trail in the State again on Monday and Tuesday, when he will address three and four rallies, respectively.
While sources said the party was yet to decide in which of these rallies BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa would take part, sources close to the latter said he was likely to participate in Shivamogga and the concluding rally, now scheduled for Bidar on May 9.
