Maharashtra polls: After Amit Shah, PM Modi lauds Pankaja Munde, backs her leadership

Aurangabad: In a significant political development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his massive rally in Beed asked Pankaja Munde Palave to undertake state-wide campaign hinting that she may be the future leader of the state.

Modi kicked off his first rally from Beed to pay homage to the departed leader Gopinath Munde. Modi appreciated the huge gathering organised by the young daughter of late Munde. A day before the PM's rally, the BJP president Amit Shah announced that she will be the state leader of the OBC's. It is notable that after the sudden death of Munde, there was a void in the BJP leadership. Munde had a strong base in Maharashtra. As far as Marathwada region is concerned, his death dealt a severe blow to the BJP.

Although, there are many leaders like the state BJP president, Devendra Padnavis, the state opposition leader, Eknath Khadase and Vinod Tavade, all lack the leadership skills and mass appeal like Munde. However, with the launch of 'Sanghgarsh Yatra' which was led by Pankaja there has been a huge positive response to the BJP. Though, Pankaja is a political novice, she possesses the qualities of a politician and very eloquent. According to some political observers, Pankaja may be elevated by the Prime Minister Modi in the coming days.

On the other hand, with his speech on Saturday, the Prime Minister gave a clear cut signal that he was not at all in favor of alliance with the Shiv Sena. Modi was advocating for the majority for the BJP in the state without any alliance. The campaign of Modi seems to have attracted those people who do not have any prior political affiliations. Moreover, Modi's working style and ideas for a new progressive India appears to be getting a positive response from the youth and this may work in favor of BJP gaining votes of the younger generation. It is very apparent that at present, the BJP lacks a strong hold in the state compared to Shiv Sena and if at all the party gains victory in the state if will be only because of the Modi-factor.

In contrast to this, Congress seems to have left with no more influential orators to compete with the rising young leaders of BJP in the election campaign who can attract the voters.