PM leads campaign blitz as Rahul falls behind

Rahul Gandhihas done only 44 public rallies and interactions until 11 May.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

From the time the general elections were declared on 16 March and until 11 May, when the campaigning for the fourth phase ended, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had done 115 public rallies and road shows in the 57-day time period in between these two dates. With 19 days of campaigning still remaining between Sunday and the final phase of polling on 1 June, it is expected that he will have done at least 3035 more such public engagements. The campaigning, as per rules, is stopped two days prior to the polling date.

Polling on 285 seats had taken place at the end of the third phase, with 96 seats going to the polls in the fourth phase on 13 May.

Bharatiya Janata Party president Jagat Prakash Nadda has done 44 rallies and 17 road shows in the same time period. His predecessor and Home Minister Amit Shah did more public engagements than him, 77 rallies and 20 road shows.