Modi's 'indirect' campaigning in Kairana bypoll to boost BJP morale

Prime minister Narendra Mod may not address any election rally in the Kairana Lok Sabha constituency bypoll slated for May 28.

But his presence in the neighbouring Baghpat district, a few kilometres away, just 24-hours before the polling will certainly boost the saffron party's morale.

Modi, who will be inaugurating the Eastern Peripheral Expressway on May 27 will also address a public meeting at Khekra in Kairana's adjoining Baghpat district.

The prime minister, whose government will be completing four years in office on May 26, will showcase his government's achievements, BJP leaders here said.

Sources said that Modi could also announce a host of welfare schemes for the farmers at the rally, which comes two days before former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh's birth anniversary.

''We expect the prime minister to announce schemes for the benefit of the farmers, especially the cane farmers,'' said a senior state BJP leader.

Incidentally, the Kairana nominee of Ajit Singh— son of Charan Singh and president of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) — had already been invoking Chaudhary's name during his campaign in the Lok Sabha constituency.

BJP sources here told DH that the saffron party strategists planned to get Modi to address a rally during the inauguration hoping that this might have some effect on the electorate in Kairana.

The BJP has deployed an army of Uttar Pradesh ministers in the constituency along with two dozen party MLAs and senior leaders from the western part of the state.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) has fielded Tabassum Hasan. Tabassum will be contesting on RLD's symbol.

The BSP and the Congress have extended support to the SP nominee.