The State BJP has done a double trick — one visible and another assiduously kept murky. By ensuring an impressive turnout at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden public meeting at IDPl Hockey ground in less than 24 hours, they have sought to show that the Modi magic is far from waning. The huge turnout must send chill down the spine of the State Congress leaders as the latter are engaged in consolidating electoral bases in Haridwar and Dehradun districts, the two that account for 21 seats in the 70-member Vidhan Sabha.
But there is another message that the state party leaders have sent, albeit under meticulously kept wraps. That is the spontaneous turnout of the migrant workers, mostly from poll-bound Bihar. The saffron strategists have selected the venue astutely as the area has a fair chunk of such people. Political analysts say it was a pre-meditated move on the part of the saffron strategists to hook them to the Modi-bandwagon. “The BJP is bent on grabbing Bihar after the humiliating debacle in Delhi Assembly polls. The election commission deciding the poll schedule between Durga Puja and Chhath festivities is pregnant with immense significance for the saffron party. During these festivals, most of the migrant workers make it a point to visit their native state. They are expected to share their experiences of living in other states with the native people. The contrast between the states developing apace and their native state that is still stepped into backwardness- both developmental and psychological-would come to the fore during such inter-course to the advantage of the saffron party which is claiming itself as the champion of development unadulterated by mental blocks like caste and community,” one of the state watchers said.