PM Modi to kick off crucial poll campaign in Madhya Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to plunge into a week-long election campaign in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh - where the ruling BJP dispensation is facing a stiff anti-incumbency mood.

According to BJP sources, Prime Minister will address poll rallies - one each - at Shahdol and Gwalior on Friday. "The rallies are well planned and have their own significance," a local BJP leader said here adding political pitch is certainly high at Gwalior - considered to be a bastion of Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia.

However, in 2013, effectively during the height of Narendra Modi's popularity, the BJP had bagged 11 seats of the 16 in the Gwalior-Bhind region. Notably, the BSP had significant hold in the last assembly polls with the Mayawati-led party finishing second in two seats and third in as many as 12 seats in the multi-cornered contest.

BJP sources in various parts of the state have said that Mr Modi remains "a magician" in terms of pulling crowd and turning that huge crowd into votes. "We are set to repeat the success of 2013 in this region," said a party worked enthusiastically.

After setting his feet in the electoral dust and heat in Scindia 'fiefdom' on Friday, Prime Minister will visit Chhindwara on November 18. Chhindwara is a known bastion of former Union Minister and Congress heavyweight Kamal Nath.

According to party sources, Mr Modi will address rally in Indore on Sunday (November 18) and between November 20 and 25, there will be a series of election rallies in Rewa, Jhabua, Mandsaur and Chhatarpur.

On November 25, one day before the campaign ends, Prime Minister will address rallies in politically crucial Vidisha and Jabalpur.

BJP chief Amit Shah has also drawn out a number of election rallies in next few days. On Thursday, November 15, Mr Shah addressed poll rallies in Badnagar, Shajapur and Barwani. The BJP national president will address similar poll related meetings in Damoh, Sagar and Tikamgarh.