NEW DELHI: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev will on Friday felicitate Narendra Modi at a gathering in Haridwar, in what is expected to be a fillip for the campaign to get the Gujarat CM projected as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate.
According to sources close to the yoga entrepreneur, the gathering will include influential figures like Ramesh Ojha whose disciples include Murari Bapu, the popular narrator of Ramayana tales who commands an impressive following. Sources said that those who will fete Modi include Sawmi Vishweshwar Teerth or Pejawar Swami, reputed figure in Sangh Parivar circles who has been the spiritual mentor for Uma Bharti.
Others who are likely to be present include Swami Awadheshanand and Anand Murti Maharaj.
The Gujarat CM is also expected to campaign in Karnataka by addressing a public meeting in Bangalore on Sunday.
The event is significant because of its timing. It comes at a time when the chasm between the cadre's enthusiasm for Modi and the resistance that he continues to face from some members of BJP's parliamentary board has become glaringly evident. A section of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) owing allegiance to Modi's known opponent, Praveen Togadia, is also seen to be working overtime to queer the Gujarat CM's pitch.
VHP is saffron outfit that liaises with sadhus and gurus on behalf of the RSS.
Given this, an endorsement for him by the prominent sadhus and gurus can help strengthen the momentum for Modi, strengthening those like the VHP stalwart Ashok Singhal who are seen as favourably disposed towards him.
The growing support for Modi from among the pro-VHP quarters is already evident, with the erstwhile fiery Uma Bharti strongly arguing for his projection even when his political guru, now a prominent saffron dissident, questions the latter's competence.
Modi supporters in the BJP feel that the Haridwar meet may accelerate the process
Gujarat chief minister's presence at Haridwar will also be seen as another strong evidence of his willingness to play in the national arena.
The CM who remained confined to Gujarat for almost decade has been making enthusiastic forays outside the state amid growing clamour for him to be declared as BJP's prime ministerial candidate. He was on Wednesday in faraway Kerala to be felicitated at Sivagiri Mutt, founded by legendary social reformer Sree Narayana Guru.
According to sources close to the yoga entrepreneur, the gathering will include influential figures like Ramesh Ojha whose disciples include Murari Bapu, the popular narrator of Ramayana tales who commands an impressive following. Sources said that those who will fete Modi include Sawmi Vishweshwar Teerth or Pejawar Swami, reputed figure in Sangh Parivar circles who has been the spiritual mentor for Uma Bharti.
Others who are likely to be present include Swami Awadheshanand and Anand Murti Maharaj.
The Gujarat CM is also expected to campaign in Karnataka by addressing a public meeting in Bangalore on Sunday.
The event is significant because of its timing. It comes at a time when the chasm between the cadre's enthusiasm for Modi and the resistance that he continues to face from some members of BJP's parliamentary board has become glaringly evident. A section of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) owing allegiance to Modi's known opponent, Praveen Togadia, is also seen to be working overtime to queer the Gujarat CM's pitch.
VHP is saffron outfit that liaises with sadhus and gurus on behalf of the RSS.
Given this, an endorsement for him by the prominent sadhus and gurus can help strengthen the momentum for Modi, strengthening those like the VHP stalwart Ashok Singhal who are seen as favourably disposed towards him.
The growing support for Modi from among the pro-VHP quarters is already evident, with the erstwhile fiery Uma Bharti strongly arguing for his projection even when his political guru, now a prominent saffron dissident, questions the latter's competence.
Modi supporters in the BJP feel that the Haridwar meet may accelerate the process
Gujarat chief minister's presence at Haridwar will also be seen as another strong evidence of his willingness to play in the national arena.
The CM who remained confined to Gujarat for almost decade has been making enthusiastic forays outside the state amid growing clamour for him to be declared as BJP's prime ministerial candidate. He was on Wednesday in faraway Kerala to be felicitated at Sivagiri Mutt, founded by legendary social reformer Sree Narayana Guru.
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