This Article is From May 03, 2014

Narendra Modi Takes Battle to Rahul Gandhi's Turf

Narendra Modi Takes Battle to Rahul Gandhi's Turf

FILE photo: BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Narendra Modi is taking his battle to Rahul Gandhi's door-step. The BJP's prime ministerial candidate will reportedly address a rally in Amethi, the Congress vice-president's constituency in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.

In doing so, Mr Modi will break the convention of top political leaders refraining from campaigning in constituencies represented by their main opponents. Mr Gandhi, 43, is widely expected to be the Prime Minister if the Congress wins a third straight term at the Centre this time.

The BJP has also for the first time put up a semblance of a contest in Amethi against Mr Gandhi, its two-time MP, by fielding popular actor-turned-politician Smriti Irani. With Kumar Vishwas of the Aam Aadmi Party also in the fray, the battle for Amethi has turned into a keenly-watched contest.

Amethi votes on May 7, the penultimate phase of the nine-phase general election. Mr Modi has chosen the last day of campaigning to hit the constituency, a Gandhi seat for decades. (India Votes 2014: full coverage)

Mr Gandhi, who has spearheaded the Congress' campaign and has been touring the country, comes back to Amethi today for a two-day campaign. His younger sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has held fort in Amethi in his stead, launching from the family bastion an aggressive attack on the BJP and Mr Modi, in an attempt to infuse fire into her party's campaign. ('They Are Dumping Malicious Booklets Like Cowards': Priyanka vs BJP)

Ms Vadra's attack on the BJP came after the rival party hurled charges of corruption against her husband, Robert Vadra, a businessman. (BJP's sharpest attack ever on Robert Vadra)

Mr Modi, in his recent election rallies, has been taunting the Congress vice-president by comparing him with stand-up comedian Kapil Sharma. (Read more...) Mr Gandhi, on his part, has been attacking the BJP's prime ministerial candidate for promoting crony-capitalism in Gujarat, and leaving farmers in the lurch. (Crony capitalism an election issue in BJP vs Congress)
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