Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to intensify BJP’s campaign in high-stakes Maharashtra by addressing three public rallies across the state on Tuesday. The PM will be rallying support for the MahaYuti candidates. The Prime Minister’s first stop will be Chimur in eastern Vidarbha at 1 pm, followed by a 4:15 pm rally in Solapur, and wrapping up the day in Pune at 6:30 pm.
Western Maharashtra, which boasts 70 Assembly seats, is considered a stronghold of the NCP-Congress alliance, and the BJP, along with its MahaYuti allies, is focused on limiting damage in the region. The PM is at the forefront here to help address organisational challenges at the grassroots level and gather support.
Vidarbha, home to 62 Assembly constituencies, is particularly crucial for both the BJP and Congress in this election. With 36 of the 76 direct contests between the two parties taking place in this region, Vidarbha could prove pivotal to the overall outcome. The BJP has fielded 47 candidates in the area, and a strong performance here would significantly boost the MahaYuti alliance’s prospects of retaining power.
The region’s strategic importance is underscored by PM Modi’s earlier visits to Wardha and Washim in late September and October, where he highlighted key issues like agriculture, textiles, and the OBC community’s welfare.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the MahaYuti faced setbacks in Vidarbha, securing just three out of ten parliamentary seats in the region. On November 9, during a speech in Maharashtra, PM Modi sharply criticized the Congress for its prolonged exploitation of the state’s people, further energizing his campaign for the upcoming polls.