The BJP has set the ball rolling for the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh with Prime Minister Narendra Modi arriving at the states on Thursday to inaugurate development projects.
In Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP is hoping to retain power, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 50,700 cr. These include a petrochemical complex at the Bina refinery and 10 new industrial projects across the state. Power and renewable energy manufacturing zones in Narmadapuram district, two IT parks in Indore, a mega industrial park in Ratlam, and six new industrial areas across Madhya Pradesh are part of the projects.
As for election preparations, the BJP Central Election Committee has already finalised the names of candidates in Madhya Pradesh. It has released the first list of 39 candidates and the second list, said to have 35 names, will come out in a day or two. This time, the candidate list has come out early, much before the Code of Conduct is in place.
Though the saffron party has undertaken the Jan Ashirvad Yatra to drum up public support, the response has reportedly been lukewarm. The party is also worried about the defections to the Opposition Congress.
In Chhattisgarh, Modi will address a public rally in Raigarh and also dedicate rail sector projects worth around Rs 6,350 crore on Thursday. He will also lay the foundation stone of 50 beds each 'critical care block' to be built in nine districts of Chhattisgarh under a healthcare initiative of the Centre.
The party which is hoping to bounce back to power in the state, is taking out 'Parivartan Yatra' (March of Change) to oust the ruling Congress from power. Home Minister Amit Shah and party chief JP Nadda held a meeting with local leaders last Tuesday night. Chhattisgarh BJP President Arun Sao, BL Santosh, Mansukh Mandaviya and Om Mathur, former Chief Minister Raman Singh and many senior party leaders attended the meeting.
BJP has announced the names of candidates for 21 out of 90 assembly seats in the state and may release another list of candidates' names soon.
There are also reports that the BJP was waiting for the list of Congress candidates before releasing the second list of its candidates.
