BJP president Amit Shah unveiled in Bhopal on Friday a statue of Deendayal Upadhyaya, founder of the erstwhile Jan Sangh and the party’s ideologue.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Bhopal Mayor Alok Sharma were present as Mr. Shah unveiled the statue near the city’s Lal Ghati square.
Mr. Shah was accorded a warm welcome by the Chief Minister and other party leaders, including Kailash Vijaywargiya and Prabhat Jha and State party president Nandkumar Singh Chauhan the Raja Bhoj Airport.
A large number of BJP workers, many of them sporting saffron turbans, led Mr. Shah’s entourage to the party office.
Local party functionaries said among those who turned up to greet Mr. Shah while on his way to the party office were members of the Muslim community.
Packed schedule
Mr. Shah will attend a series of meetings with local party leaders, including State unit office-bearers, central office-bearers, core group members, State spokespersons, MPs, MLAs, district presidents, among others, during his hectic three-day visit, Mr. Chauhan said.
Central office-bearers from the State will also attend the brainstorming sessions.
Mr. Shah will address intellectuals and meritorious students, besides releasing a book written by Kailash Narayan Sarang.
The visit is part of the BJP chief’s 110-day nationwide tour to strengthen and expand the party’s support base ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP has been in power for over a decade, are due next year.
