Modi’s Kanyakumari Meditation Marks Campaign’s Culmination
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to arrive in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, on the evening of May 30 for a meditation retreat that will last until June 1. This visit completes a full circle since Modi commenced his extensive Lok Sabha election campaign for 2024 from the same location on March 15.
Intensive Campaign: 180 Events in 57 Days
According to News18’s calculations, Prime Minister Modi participated in 180 campaign events, including rallies and roadshows, during this election period. Over 57 days of active campaigning, Modi maintained a rigorous schedule, averaging more than three events per day. There were days when he managed to conduct up to five events, and on 22 separate days, he completed four events each day, covering all regions of the country.
Heightened Activity in May
May saw an intensified effort from the Prime Minister, with a total of 96 events taking place during this month alone.
Focus on Four Key States
Four states were the primary focus of Modi’s campaign, accounting for more than half of his public events. Uttar Pradesh was at the forefront with 31 events, a critical state for the BJP, which won 64 out of 80 seats in 2019. Modi held 20 events in Bihar, 19 in Maharashtra, and 18 in West Bengal. In Maharashtra, the BJP formed new alliances with Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP. Bihar’s importance was underscored by the JD(U)’s return to the NDA fold. In West Bengal, the BJP aimed to increase its tally from the 18 seats won previously, with Modi’s significant roadshow in Kolkata highlighting this effort.
Southern India Push
Modi’s campaign in South India was substantial, with 35 events across five states. He held 11 events each in Karnataka and Telangana and seven in Tamil Nadu. The BJP targeted Telangana in particular, sensing anti-incumbency sentiment against the BRS and viewing the Congress as the main competitor.
Efforts in the Heartland
In Odisha, Modi conducted 10 events, with a notable roadshow in Puri, as the BJP contested strongly against Naveen Patnaik’s BJD. Madhya Pradesh also saw 10 events, while Jharkhand had seven, where the BJP perceived discontent against the JMM government following Hemant Soren’s imprisonment. Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh had five and four events, respectively.
Gujarat, Punjab, and Other Regions
In Modi’s home state of Gujarat, he held five campaign events. Punjab, a key battleground, saw four rallies, including the final rally of the season in Hoshiarpur on May 30. Haryana witnessed three rallies, while Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand each had two rallies. The northeastern states and Jammu and Kashmir had two and one rallies, respectively.