BJP to make Narendra Modi’s Azamgarh rally a show of strength

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Azamgarh on July 14 has assumed great significance in view the possible SPBSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2019 LS polls. Along with laying the foundation stone for the Purvanchal Expressway, PM is expected to hold a mega rally during his visit to this east UP district.

“PM is likely to visit on July 14 and we have started preparation for his rally,” Sahajanand Rai, convenor of the PM’ rally in Azamgarh, told ET over the phone.

Azamgarh, considered a stronghold of the Samajwadi Party (SP) because of a strong presence of Muslim and Yadav voters, is currently represented by the SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav in Parliament.

BJP has planned to show its strength in Azamgarh amid reports that Mulayam may return to Mainpuri in the 2019 LS polls. Moreover, BJP has reasons to strategise early for Azamgarh as even during Modi wave in 2017, SP and BSP managed to bag 4 and 5 seats, respectively, of the 10 seats.

What could make matters worse for BJP is any alliance between SP & BSP. Sources said BJP is planning to expand its base among non-Yadav OBCs in

Azamgarh and also in its adjacent districts like Ghazipur, Mau and Ballia. “Azamgarh, Mau and Ballia have considerable presence of most-backward castes like Rajbhar and Chauhan. And, the district is considered crucial for political mobilisation of the MBC voters,” a source in BJP’s Azamgarh unit told ET. “Azamgarh is a fit place to plan the counter-strategy for tackling the possible SP-BSP alliance,” he added.