Modi carpet bombs UP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been criss-crossing the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh almost on a regular basis holding public meetings and launching schemes as his rivals await the election notification.

In the last fortnight, Modi has addressed rallies and inaugurated or dedicated developmental projects in Amethi, Jhansi, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur and Varanasi despite criticism from the Opposition parties.

Modi will be in the state again on Friday and will address rallies in Ghaziabad, Kanpur and Varanasi. He will also launch the Lucknow Metro from Kanpur.

BJP sources said that the saffron party wants to hold Modi's rallies and programmes in as many constituencies as possible before the Model Code of Conduct kicks in.

BJP chief Amit Shah has also presided over several party programmes in the state, including sessions with booth level workers, in the past few days.

While Opposition parties have sharply criticised Modi's rallies and inauguration sprees for being held soon after the Pulwama tragedy, BJP leaders find nothing wrong with it.

"We are going to face the Lok Sabha polls... it is important that we tell the people about our achievements and also fulfill our election promises," senior BJP leader Vijay Bahadur Pathak told DH.

Pathak exuded confidence that Modi's tours to the state will greatly benefit the saffron party and help improve its 2014 tally of 71 seats.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress leaders said that the rallies and inaugurations were of "old schemes" and only reflected the "panic" within the BJP.

"The BJP has been in a state of panic after our alliance with the BSP... it (BJP) knows that its tally will decline drastically and hence it is taking Modi to different places to boost the morale of the workers, but they will not succeed," a senior SP leader said here.

The leader also said that SP president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati will soon hit the campaign trail.