News Brief
Kuldeep Negi
Mar 27, 2024, 03:32 PM | Updated 03:32 PM IST
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to initiate the BJP’s election campaign for the Lok Sabha in Uttar Pradesh from Meerut, with a large public rally on 30 March.
In Meerut, PM Modi will campaign for Arun Govil, BJP candidate from the parliamentary constituency.
Govil is known for playing Lord Ram in the 1980s television series "Ramayan".
Govil replaces three-time MP Rajendra Agarwal who has been holding the Meerut seat since 2004.
During the rally, PM Modi will share the stage with Jayant Chaudhury, chief of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD).
The RLD recently joined the NDA alliance ahead of Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Meerut has reportedly been chosen strategically for PM Modi’s rally.
The constituency has a sizable population of Jats and Gurjars, the two communities which the BJP has been seeking to consolidate and can be used to send a message across the entire region.
Uttar Pradesh, with 80 seats in Lok Sabha, holds sway over the formation of the central government in Delhi.
So far, the BJP has declared a total of 402 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, and it has dropped at least 100 sitting MPs from the list.
Kuldeep is Senior Editor (Newsroom) at Swarajya. He tweets at @kaydnegi.