11-03-2007, 01:10 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Modi to keep stars at bay in poll campaign </b>
Kumar Uttam | New Delhi
Pioneer.com
BJP's election campaign in Gujarat would be sans 'stars'. Chief Minister Narendra Modi is learnt to have conveyed to the BJP high command that he does not need film stars to attract voters to his rallies.
Apparently, the party high command is also not interested in bearing the huge expenditure incurred in 'hiring' these film and TV stars and subsequently organising other facilities for them.
"There are two reasons for not roping in stars. First, they ask for big money. Second, they hardly convert the crowd into votes," a senior BJP leader told The Pioneer preferring anonymity.
It has almost been agreed that Leader of the Opposition LK Advani and Chief Minister Narendra Modi would take centrestage in party's campaign in Gujarat, which is expected to kick off anytime around November 23.
BJP's Election Management and Coordination Committee in-charge Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, <b>"Advani along with BJP president Rajnath Singh would address as many as 35-40 election rallies in Gujarat."</b>
A radio and newspaper advertisement campaign for Gujarat is likely to start from next week. Similarly, both Advani and Rajnath will attend at least 30 public meetings in the election-bound Himachal Pradesh.
Development and achievements of the Modi Government would be poll plank of the BJP in Gujarat. Indications are that the party's campaign in the State would be devoid of any counter-claim on Godhra riots, despite that a private news magazine made an unsuccessful attempt to fix the Chief Minister in the 2002 case.
<b>The BJP also announced to take up the challenge put forth by Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal who had on Thursday announced to expose Modi's "hollow claims" on development front, one by one.</b>
Reacting to Congress' allegation that the Modi Government hardly performed in some sectors, the saffron party came out with a compilation of remarks of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, senior Congress Ministers, World Bank and other Central agencies about the achievements and good governance of the BJP Government.
In imachal Pradesh, the party's attempt is to ride on the anti-incumbency faced by the Congress Government in order to make a comeback to power.
"Corruption and non-performance of the State Government would be the main agenda.
BJP's campaign in Himachal would also compare the performance of the present Congress Government to that of the previous BJP regime.
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Kumar Uttam | New Delhi
Pioneer.com
BJP's election campaign in Gujarat would be sans 'stars'. Chief Minister Narendra Modi is learnt to have conveyed to the BJP high command that he does not need film stars to attract voters to his rallies.
Apparently, the party high command is also not interested in bearing the huge expenditure incurred in 'hiring' these film and TV stars and subsequently organising other facilities for them.
"There are two reasons for not roping in stars. First, they ask for big money. Second, they hardly convert the crowd into votes," a senior BJP leader told The Pioneer preferring anonymity.
It has almost been agreed that Leader of the Opposition LK Advani and Chief Minister Narendra Modi would take centrestage in party's campaign in Gujarat, which is expected to kick off anytime around November 23.
BJP's Election Management and Coordination Committee in-charge Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, <b>"Advani along with BJP president Rajnath Singh would address as many as 35-40 election rallies in Gujarat."</b>
A radio and newspaper advertisement campaign for Gujarat is likely to start from next week. Similarly, both Advani and Rajnath will attend at least 30 public meetings in the election-bound Himachal Pradesh.
Development and achievements of the Modi Government would be poll plank of the BJP in Gujarat. Indications are that the party's campaign in the State would be devoid of any counter-claim on Godhra riots, despite that a private news magazine made an unsuccessful attempt to fix the Chief Minister in the 2002 case.
<b>The BJP also announced to take up the challenge put forth by Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal who had on Thursday announced to expose Modi's "hollow claims" on development front, one by one.</b>
Reacting to Congress' allegation that the Modi Government hardly performed in some sectors, the saffron party came out with a compilation of remarks of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, senior Congress Ministers, World Bank and other Central agencies about the achievements and good governance of the BJP Government.
In imachal Pradesh, the party's attempt is to ride on the anti-incumbency faced by the Congress Government in order to make a comeback to power.
"Corruption and non-performance of the State Government would be the main agenda.
BJP's campaign in Himachal would also compare the performance of the present Congress Government to that of the previous BJP regime.
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