Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday launch the BJP’s campaign in Maharashtra from Beed, the home turf of the late BJP leader Gopinath Munde, in the crucial Marathwada region.
Later in the day, Mr. Modi will address another public meeting in Aurangabad, also in Marathwada, and a third one in Mumbai.
“The elections would have been fought under the leadership of Gopinath Mundeji. In a way, this is to pay homage to him,” BJP vice-president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe told The Hindu on why Beed was chosen as the starting point of Mr. Modi’s campaign.
Observers believe that by evoking Mr. Munde, the BJP was trying to appeal to the OBC population in the State.
Mr. Munde’s sudden death earlier this year left a void in the BJP’s State leadership as he was considered a mass leader and a prominent OBC face.
The mantle of taking forward his legacy has been handed over to his daughter, MLA from Parli in Beed, Pankaja Munde-Palwe.
Observers believe that she is being promoted as a probable CM contender keeping in view the OBC constituency in the State.
While addressing a rally in Bhagwangad in Beed, BJP chief Amit Shah on Friday appealed to Maharashtra’s OBC community to “unite under” Mr. Palwe’s leadership and to “complete the unfinished work of Gopinath Munde for the welfare of the backward classes.”
“Under Mr. Modi’s leadership the Central government’s primary policy is to work for the welfare of the OBCs,” Mr. Shah told the crowd.
Though the BJP hopes to benefit from the sympathy factor over Munde, its campaign primarily relies on the appeal of Mr. Modi.
The BJP hopes to come to power on its own strength after it recently split with its long-time ally the Shiv Sena.
On Sunday, Mr. Modi will address rallies in Nashik, Sangli, Gondiya and Kolhapur and is expected to address more than 15 rallies in the State, which goes to the polls on October 15.