Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP election campaign committee chairman Narendra Modi is schedule to visit the State on July 16. This would be the first visit of the BJP strong man after being elevated to the post of chairman of the party campaign panel.
Though his visit is being described as personal, it would have a positive impact on the rank and file of the State party unit, which is not in a good shape. "Modi ji is coming only for a day’s visit to have a darshan of lord Jagannath on July 16 and take the lord’s blessing," said BJP national general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday.
On return from Puri, he would have an informal discussion with the senior party leaders at the State party headquarters relating to organizational matter before his departure in the afternoon, informed Pradhan.
However, the party is preparing to give a ceremonial welcome to Modi, according to party sources. Modi, who is set to be BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, is scheduled to meet Gajapati King Dibya Singh Deb at Puri and also seek blessings of the trio deities lord Jagannath, His elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra at the Adapa Mandap in the Gundicha temple, who are now on their annual nine-day sojourn during the Rath Yatra.
Modi would also pay obeisance to Goddess Bimala and laxmi on the Jagannath Temple premises.
According to BJP sources, Modi would on his arrival leave for Puri directly from the Bhubaneswar Biju Panaik Airport. He would remain at Puri for around four hours during which he is likely to meet some senior party men there.