Political heavyweights, bigwigs, even party chiefs, all Mumbai-bound to hit campaign trail.
The Bharatiya Janata Party will rope in all its top central leadership, including chief ministers, to campaign for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls.
“Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi may have been conspicuous by his absence in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections but he has promised to campaign in Mumbai,” said party sources.
Senior leader LK Advani is expected to attend a joint public rally of the Shiv Sena and BJP at the Bandra-Kurla Complex on February 13.
Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray will address the concluding campaign for the Sena-BJP-Republican Party of India (RPI) alliance at a public rally. “Bal Thackeray’s address will be the mother of all public rallies in Mumbai. We hope to get on stage prominent leaders of the Sena, BJP and RPI. It will portray a joint show to signal a strong alliance,” said Sena officials.
Chhattisgarh chief minister Ramon Singh, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Uttaranchal chief minister BC Khanduri are on the list of star campaigners. Leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and senior leader Venkaiah Naidu will campaign in the city.
In the last few months, the BJP had deployed the services of Jaitley to interact with select audiences on several subjects, including Lok Pal bill.
“Mumbai has the maximum urban population. The Central leaders will make an impact as the Marathi-speaking community is 30%, Gujarati (17-20%), north Indian (Bihar/Uttar Pradesh) 20% and Muslims (14-16%),” said BJP political managers.
It was felt popular leaders from the Centre hold special appeal for Mumbaiakars. Sources said Modi holds a special appeal among the Gujaratis in the city and is well conversant with Marathi.
Mumbai has always been special for Advani as it is his wife’s home town.
Not to be left behind, senior Congress leaders from Delhi too will be in the city to hold rallies and address gatherings. The Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) has compiled a list of star campaigners, including party president Sonia Gandhi, general secretary Rahul Gandhi, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, Union ministers Kapil Sibal, Salman Khurshid and Ghulam Nabi Azad.
The MRCC has sent 31 names for star campaigners. The list includes names of chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, Union ministers Sushilkumar Shinde and Vilasrao Deshmukh. “We’ll get the confirmation in two to three days and are hoping that Soniaji and Rahulji will be here to address meetings,” said Sachin Sawant, Congress state spokesperson.
— Inputs from Vishwas Waghmode
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