With Modi on whirlwind poll tour,Patel troika calls the shots in state

As Modi has chosen not to delegate power to a deputy in the state,there will be three power centres. Nitin Patel,however,is the man chairing most meetings in Modi’s absence. While Anandi Patel takes decisions,Saurabh Patel looks after industries and taxation issues.

Modi’s last rally was in Bahraich on November 8. After Bahraich rally,Modi turned his focus back on Gujarat,addressing BJP workers via video over the strategy for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and the iron collection drive for the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s Statue of Unity. Between these,he inaugurated a multi-specialty hospital run by a little-known Muslim trust in Balasinor of Kheda district,a predominantly Muslim town.

Over the next fortnight,Modi will concentrate on Chhattisgarh,Rajasthan,Madhya Pradesh and Delhi,with interludes in Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. “Over the two days in Chhattisgarh,Modi will address nine election meetings,” said a BJP leader. “After a weekend break,he will resume the campaign for Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh,” he added.

On November 18,20,21 and 22,Modi will be in MP,campaigning for Shivraj Singh Chouhan. On November 12,19 and 28,he will be in Rajasthan. On November 21,Modi will also address a rally in Uttar Pradesh. He will be back in Lucknow on December 25 — former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birthday — for a function. On request of Delhi BJP unit,Modi will be campaigning in the national capital on November 23, 30 and December 1. Modi will also visit Jammu in the first week of December. “The CM’s schedule for the next 15 days is packed with election rallies,” said a BJP leader.

Pramod Kumar,in-charge DGP (Gujarat),said,“The security teams are headed by the Inspector Generals who have deputy IGPs and SPs under them as the core accompanying team. The personnel who have to ensure security at the ground,including bomb and dog squads,intelligence and other units,go as another team under the IPS officers. This is our own independent security cover that we are providing to our CM.”

A team of officials from the Chief Minister’s Office,home department,CID (intelligence),CM security officials,DGP office and law and order officers brainstorm on the cover that needs to accompany the CM.