No rally in Pune, but PM Narendra Modi’s pit stop comes as a shot in the arm for party

PUNE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Pune late on Tuesday night and was received by a delegation led by BJP candidate Girish Bapat.


All sitting MLAs from the city along with MP Anil Shirole, MP Sanjay Kakade and city unit chief Yogesh Gogawale were present at the airport. According to the delegation present at the airport, though no formal meeting took place with Modi, the leaders, while greeting PM, assured him informally of the party’s victory in the Pune LS constituency. The PM then left for the Raj Bhavan for overnight stay in the city.

“The PM’s schedule is very tight. So, there was no formal meeting or discussion. We just greeted him at the airport, ”said Shirole.

Sources in party said that though Modi is not going to address a rally during his visit, his brief presence in the city will come as a boost for party workers.

On Wednesday morning, Modi will address a poll rally at Akluj, which is part of Madha Lok Sabha constituency. BJP leaders on Tuesday said that the PM’s rally at Akluj will be a joint rally for Madha and neighbouring Baramati constituency. BJP’s Baramati candidate Kanchan Kool will be present at the rally. BJP leader Ganesh Bidkar said that even during 2014 election, Modi had addressed a joint rally in Pune for candidates from Pune, Maval, Baramati and Shirur. The rally at Akluj will be for Madha and Baramati constituencies. No communication has been received so far about the PM’s poll rally in Pune,” he said.

The BJP has decided to put all out efforts to clinch a victory in Baramati, a bastion of NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule is looking ahead for a hat-trick from Baramati.

BJP national president Amit Shah and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis are going to hold rallies in Baramati.

Voting for Pune and Baramati is scheduled on April 23. Neighbouring Maval and Shirur will go to polls on April 29.

Sources in party said that it was unlikely that the PM will hold a rally in Maval and Shirur since Shiv Sena is contesting in both the constituencies.