Faced with anti-incumbency and angry Patidars, the BJP is banking on its tallest leader with a pan-state appeal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Every BJP banner or pamphlet features the PM prominently and Modi has travelled to his home state at least 10 times in the past one year — the last five visits in a little over a month.
Most of his visits are designed to pack in launch or inauguration of at least one big-ticket project— dedication of Sardar Sarovar Dam to the nation and foundation laying of Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train in September being the most prominent ones. On the sidelines, he inaugurates hospitals, dairies, housing projects, diamond processing units, sports complex and drinking water supply to housing societies.
At the same time, his visits are clubbed with national or international events like Indo-Japan annual summit (September 2017), Textile India Conclave (June-July 2017), annual general meeting of African Development Bank (May 2017) and National Conference for Women Sarpanchs (March 2017).
