BJP, Congress rallies boost morale of party workers

The show of strength by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, with top leaders addressing the election rallies in Mysore, has come as a morale booster for party workers.

With only a week left for the elections, both parties claim to have received a shot in the arm with the high-profile rallies led by Narendra Modi and Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. The back-to-back rallies saw the assembly of a large number of supporters of the respective parties.

Will the Modi factor and Ms. Gandhi’s ‘aura’ have any impact on the poll prospects of the BJP and the Congress?

The leaders of the parties are lashing out at each other in an attempt to woo the voters in the constituency.

The Janata Dal (Secular) is trying to fortify its position in the constituency that has over 16 lakh voters.

“Mr. Modi’s address has created a sensation not just among the party cadre but across a wide spectrum of people here. He has great appeal among the party cadre. His rally will make a noticeable impact on the party’s poll prospects in Mysore,” BJP spokesperson M.A. Mohan said.

“While it is a morale booster for the party leaders and workers who are straining every nerve to woo the voters, the response from self-motivated crowds to the rally has scared the opposition parties,” he told The Hindu .

“Mr. Modi has infused the party leaders and workers here with renewed energy. It has given them new strength to work harder for the party’s victory,” he added.

The mood in the Congress camp is upbeat after Ms. Gandhi’s rally. In fact, the crowd, which consisted mostly of supporters from Mysore, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts, waited for almost two hours to listen to the Congress president’s 11-minute election address.

“Ms. Gandhi has suffused strength into the party, which is leaving no stone unturned to retain the Mysore Lok Sabha seat. Her address has inspired scores of party workers,” party spokesperson H.A. Venkatesh said.

The impromptu roadshow gave the party workers an opportunity to get a glimpse of Ms. Gandhi, he said.

“The Congress rally had participants both from urban and rural areas, which indicates the party’s strength in the grassroots,” Mr. Venkatesh said.