Today in Politics: PM Modi’s Tamil Nadu push continues with roadshow in Chennai

This will be Modi’s second visit to Madhya Pradesh in three days. On Sunday, the PM held a roadshow in Jabalpur. The Sidhi, Shahdol (ST), Jabalpur, Mandla (ST), Balaghat and Chhindwara seats in Madhya Pradesh will vote in the first phase on April 19.

The PM will continue with his Tamil Nadu push — he will be on a two-day visit to the state starting Tuesday — focussing particularly on the Coimbatore seat that the BJP hopes to clinch this time. All 39 seats in the state will vote in the first phase.

The PM will hold a roadshow in Chennai on Tuesday, covering segments of the South Chennai and Central Chennai constituencies. Former Telangana and Puducherry Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan is the BJP’s South Chennai candidate, while Vinoj P Selvam is contesting from Chennai Central. Soundararajan will take on the DMK’sTamilachi Thangapandian and the AIADMK’s J Jayavardhan. Selvam will battle it out with DMK heavyweight Dayanidhi Maran.

The following day, Modi will first address a public meeting in Vellore to support two small partners in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) — the Pattali Makkal Kachi’s Dharmapuri candidate Soumya Anbumani as well as the New Justice Party’s Vellore candidate AC Shanmugam who is contesting on the BJP symbol.

The PM will then head to Mettupalayam and campaign for the BJP candidates from Nilgiris (L Murugan), Coimbatore (K Annamalai) and Pollachi (K Vasantharajan).

Among these seats in the Dravidian land, where the BJP has no presence, Coimbatore stands out for the focus the PM has been placing on it. In fact, Coimbatore was the chosen location for Modi’s first political rally in Tamil Nadu after becoming the PM in 2014. For his first political engagement in the state after the Lok Sabha election schedule was announced, Modi again chose Coimbatore. He also went on to hold a massive road show in the constituency on March 19.

Delhi High Court verdict on Kejriwal’s bail plea

On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest in a money laundering case linked with the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. Kejriwal is currently in judicial custody and lodged in the Tihar jail.

As per the cause list uploaded on the High Court’s website, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma will pronounce the order at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Besides his arrest, Kejriwal has also challenged his subsequent remand in the Enforcement Directorate’s custody.

On March 27, Justice Sharma had issued notice in the CM’s main petition against the arrest on March 21 as well as his application for interim relief seeking immediate release, listing it on April 3 for “final disposal”. On April 3, Justice Sharma, after hearing both sides for around four hours, had reserved the verdict.

Opposing his “illegal” arrest, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the CM, had argued that the arrest was intended to disable him from any active role in politics, further impinging on the level-playing field and the Basic Structure of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, the ED, represented by Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, had argued that “criminals, undertrials have no business to say that they will commit the crime and get immunity on the grounds that elections are coming”.

Amit Shah in Bengal

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be in Assam on Tuesday to address a public meeting at Chukuli Bhoria in Lakhimpur constituency in the afternoon.

The Lakhimpur seat is held by the BJP and incumbent MP Pradan Baruah is seeking a third successive term. He is up against Congress candidate Uday Shankar Hazarika.

Shah will then take part in a road show from Chaliha Nagar to Thana Chariali in Tinsukia town in the evening.

Tinsukia town comes under Dibrugarh seat, from where Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal is contesting as the BJP candidate. Sonowal is facing a triangular fight with United Opposition Forum (Assam) nominee Lurinjyoti Gogoi and Aam Aadmi Party candidate Manoj Dhanowar.

Dibrugarh is currently held by Union minister Rameswar Teli but he was not nominated by the party this time.

—- With PTI inputs