’Modi’s rally will turn tide in BJP’s favour’

'Modi's rally will turn tide in BJP's favour'

That's what Girish Bapat, BJP's city president and sitting MLA, said in an interview to Vivek Sabnis. Bapat believes that the rally, which was addressed by Gujarat CM Narendra Modi in the city recently, will work wonders for the party

What makes you feel that a BJP candidate will have strong chances to winning even when the party hasn't decided whom it's going to field?
BJP candidates had eaten the Congress votes in the past and we expect the same even this time round. Besides, people are disappointed with Congress following the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai. The issues like national security and development that were raised by Narendra Modi in a public rally in Pune will also work wonders for the BJP.

Do you think a rally addressed by Narendra Modi can fetch you votes?
It was a huge rally and was attended by about 1.5 lakh people. This is something that has happened in Pune for the first time in 20 years. Modi's speech made a deep impact on the people and this will certainly help turn the tide in BJP's favour.

But how can you just assume that people, for sure, will vote to your party?
This time we are focusing on the youths and the issues related to them. Eradicate unemployment is our topmost top priority. Also, youth leaders like Dhanajnay Munde and Poonam Mahajan have already started reaching out to the youths in the Pune.

Do you think any outsider has the chances of bagging the BJP ticket from the Pune Lok Sabha Constituency?
There are speculations but I am convinced that the party leadership won't give the ticket to any outsider.

How is your going about the entire campaigning process?
Over 5,000 party workers would be campaigning throughout the election process. Also, all the 28 BJP corporators in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) would be campaigning through 1,400 booths that would be put up in the city. The activists of Rashtriya Yuva Morcha would be campaigning amongst the young voters and Lal Krishna Advani would also come to address an election rally.

There's a trend of using Internet and other hi-tech methods for campaigning these days. Is your party too following the same?
Advaniji is the most tech savvy leader we have and his website is visited by million of people. Besides, we have our own website dedicated for the Pune Lok Sabha elections.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels