Modi to address four rallies in poll-bound Chhattisgarh today

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is set to address four rallies in poll-bound Chhattisgarh on Friday.

According to TV reports, the Gujarat Chief Minister will address rallies in Raigadh, Korba, Bilha and Mahasamund.

Modi had addressed four rallies in Chhattisgarh on Thursday as well.

Accusing the Congress Party of seeking to form a government in Chhattisgarh via the backdoor, Modi, on Thursday, challenged the latter to openly name its chief ministerial candidate for the state.

Praising the achievements of incumbent BJP Chief Minister Raman Singh during the last ten years, Modi, who was addressing a BJP rally in Bemetara, urged the people of the state to vote for the 'lotus' symbol, i.e the BJP, for a third consecutive term in office.

"Make the BJP win with a thumping majority. People of Chhattisgarh, the media wants the Congress to declare and name it's CM candidate for Chhattisgarh. I would like to ask the Congress as to why is it trying to achieve power (in the state) through backdoor entry? Why is the Congress silent and not talking about the hardships it has caused? What is troubling the Congress that it is not naming its CM candidate? What is preventing the Congress from revealing this? Why is not happy with the development taking place in Chhattisgarh under Raman Singh's leadership," asked Modi.

Without naming Congress leader Ajit Jogi, Modi opined that if the Congress did name Jogi as its chief ministerial candidate, it knew it would lose in the state assembly elections.

"Who is the Congress CM candidate? Conduct a sting operation, or ask them privately, and they will name Ajit Jogi, why hide?," he asked.

Mounting a shrill attack on the Congress President, Modi said, "Madam, you are ill. Let the 'shehzada' (prince) take over. And let's see then if he can deliver round-the-clock electricity to Chhattisgarh."

Chhattisgarh, which witnessed a voter turnout of 67 percent in its first phase on Monday, will go into its second phase of polls on November 19, for the remaining 72 constituencies.