Modi, Vivek Oberoi to campaign for BJP in Gujarat

The BJP on Friday declared a list of 40 campaigners who will be touring across all 26 seats in the state for the Lok Sabha polls.

Among the names are Prime Minister Narendra Modi and film actor Vivek Oberoi, who is featuring in a film based on Modi. The release of this movie has been challenged in the Supreme Court.

State party chief Jitu Vaghani said that the prime minister would be visiting the state for election rallies in Junagadh and Porbandar in Saurashtra region on April 10. He will hold similar rallies in Bardoli and Navsari Lok Sabha seats in south Gujarat on the same day.

BJP national president Amit Shah, who is contesting from the Gandhinagar seat, will also launch his campaign from Vejalpur on Saturday morning. Shah is scheduled to take out a road-show in various areas to woo voters. Vaghani said that the BJP chief would also hold meetings with local residents of Bopal area in the city.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, too, is landing in the state on Saturday morning. She will be participating in events in Vadodara, Anand and Ahmedabad where she is likely to talk about border security and the “decisive” leadership of Modi.

Discontent in Cong

Meanwhile, Congress is still struggling to contain its workers who are dissatisfied over ticket distribution. Many have threatened to join the BJP, while one MLA, Kalubhai Dabhi from Kapadvanj in Kheda district, quit the party on Thursday.

“There are some issues but we are a family and will resolve it soon,” Rajiv Satav, the party’s election in-charge told mediapersons. Satav also launched the party’s manifesto and said that the Nyuntam Aay Yojna (NYAY) would cover 40 lakh families in the state which live below the poverty line.

He said that the party would be reaching out to voters in the state for better health facilities, education, women empowerment among other issues. Satav also claimed that the Congress' win in Gujarat would be a record of sorts.