A Narendra Modi rally in Jodhpur
New Delhi:
Narendra Modi hits Delhi today to give a final push to his party the BJP's campaign before next week's assembly elections, but has not been permitted to hold a rally in the New Delhi constituency of Chief Minster Sheila Dikshit.
The New Delhi Municipal Council or NDMC has turned down the BJP's request to hold a rally in the constituency, denying permission for all four locations that the party had suggested. The civic body has cited security concerns as the reason.
The BJP, which reportedly fears that Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party could split the anti-Dikshit votes that would have come its way in a two-way contest, had requested Mr Modi, its prime ministerial candidate and star campaigner, to campaign for an extra day in the national capital.
It had scheduled four rallies for today, but with no permission for the New Delhi rally, Mr Modi will now address gatherings only at Shahadra, Sultanpuri Majra and Chandni Chowk.
In his speeches at those rallies, Mr Modi is likely to attack the Congress, which rules both at the Centre and in Delhi, for the NDMC's denial of permission to campaign in Ms Diskhit's area.
Sheila Dikshit, who has been Delhi's Chief Minister for the last 15 years, has been challenged to a direct contest in New Delhi by Mr Kejriwal. Recent opinion polls have predicted that Mr Kejriwal could pull off a big win.
Ms Dikshit told NDTV this week that such surveys do not worry her.
The New Delhi Municipal Council or NDMC has turned down the BJP's request to hold a rally in the constituency, denying permission for all four locations that the party had suggested. The civic body has cited security concerns as the reason.
The BJP, which reportedly fears that Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party could split the anti-Dikshit votes that would have come its way in a two-way contest, had requested Mr Modi, its prime ministerial candidate and star campaigner, to campaign for an extra day in the national capital.
It had scheduled four rallies for today, but with no permission for the New Delhi rally, Mr Modi will now address gatherings only at Shahadra, Sultanpuri Majra and Chandni Chowk.
In his speeches at those rallies, Mr Modi is likely to attack the Congress, which rules both at the Centre and in Delhi, for the NDMC's denial of permission to campaign in Ms Diskhit's area.
Sheila Dikshit, who has been Delhi's Chief Minister for the last 15 years, has been challenged to a direct contest in New Delhi by Mr Kejriwal. Recent opinion polls have predicted that Mr Kejriwal could pull off a big win.
Ms Dikshit told NDTV this week that such surveys do not worry her.
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