Joshi to skip Modi’s nomination today

BJP’s Kanpur media in-charge Sunil Bajaj told The Indian Express that Joshi in the letter has stated that he cannot attend Modi’s nomination because he will be busy with his own election campaign in Kanpur.

“Joshiji has extended wishes to Modi. In the letter, Joshiji stated that the win of Modi with a huge margin in Varanasi was sure because of an atmosphere in favour of Modi across the country,” Bajaj said.

Joshi also appealed to party workers in Varanasi to campaign for Modi with complete dedication.

Comedian turned-actor Raju Srivastava who had recently returned the Samajwadi Party Lok Sabha ticket from Kanpur will address three public meetings with Joshi in the city Thursday.

Joshi had recently triggered a controversy by commenting that there was no Modi wave in the country. Modi, later, had sought blessings of Joshi and appealed to people to vote for Joshi during a rally in Akbarpur last week.

BJP spokesperson for Kashi region Rakesh Trivedi said party national vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, senior leader Nalin Kohli, national general secretary Amit Shah and state president Laxmikant Bajpai will be present in the road show that Modi will take out from BHU to Collectorate.

Shah and Bajpai have already reached Varanasi and Trivedi said several other senior leaders may also reach Varanasi for Modi’s nomination. Modi will reach Varanasi Thursday for first time after the announcement of his candidature.