Today in Politics: Modi in Bastar and Maharashtra, Shah in Arunachal; Rahul to kickstart Congress campaign in MP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday will address a rally in Bastar in Chhattisgarh on Monday, a BJP leader said.

The rally will be held in Aamabal village in Bhanpuri in Bastar Lok Sabha constituency, which will go to polls on April 19, Anurag Agarwal, the Chhattisgarh BJP’s media co-in charge said on Sunday.

The PM will also participate in a public meeting in Chandrapur of Maharashtra as a part of the party’s plan to hold two rallies in each of the state’s five regions.

According to the state BJP unit, the PM will hold rallies in those constituencies where it expects a tough fight.

BJP minister Sudhir Mungantiwar has been fielded in Chandrapur and will take on the Congress’s Pratibha Dhanorkar, the Balu Dhanorkar who passed away in May 2023. Chandrapur was the only seat in the state that the Congress won in the 209 Lok Sabha elections.

“With elections spread out in five phases, we have enough time to convene rallies of both central and state leaders. In seats which come under difficult category, we will focus more, complete with Modi’s rally,” a BJP leader said.

In context: Modi’s visit to the state amid a tussle between Mahayuti partners over seat-sharing. Sources said seven of the state’s 48 Lok Sabha seats are proving to be tricky due to which the ruling alliance is yet to release the names for 15 seats.

Recommended reading: Maharashtra proving tricky for BJP, 15 seats yet to be decided

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister will kickstart the NDA campaign in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday with a rally at Pasighat, senior Arunachal BJP vice-president Tarh Tarak said.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address rallies and roadshows in Namakkal, Nagapattinam and Tenkasi.

Wayanad MP and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will