Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday will kick-start his election campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in the Northeast.

In his first address to the Northeast in the new year, Modi will conduct two public rallies in Manipur’s Imphal and Assam’s Silchar, two BJP-ruled states in the region.

PM Modi will address a public rally at Hafta Kangjeibung in Imphal east district.

Modi will also inaugurate and lay foundation stones of several projects and schemes in Manipur including the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Indo-Myanmar border, Dolaithabi Dam, Powerloom Estate.

The Prime Minister will also address a public rally at Silchar in Assam, the BJP’s oldest bastion in the region. He will address the ‘Bijay Sankalpa Samabesh’ at Ramnagar area, Silchar.

After losing ground in the Hindi heartland, the BJP and its allies have set a target to win 21 out of the 25 parliamentary seats in eight states in the region and 11 out of 14 from Assam.

In 2014, the BJP had won seven seats from Assam.

Call for shutdown, boycott by militant groups
 

Tight security arrangements have been made in Manipur ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, after several rebel groups called for a total shutdown, boycotting Modi’s visit to the state.

The Coordinating Committee (CorCom), an umbrella organisation of several militant outfits in Manipur, called for a total shutdown to boycott the Prime Minister’s visit; it will commence from 1 am on the day of his visit and will remain effective till his departure.

Manipur CM Biren Singh inspecting rally ground

A statement released by the CorCom said, “Modi’s visit is nothing but to consolidate the hold of the ‘colonial rule’ established in Manipur by the ‘colonial masters’ before him. Nothing good has been brought about besides oppression and destruction in the state since it was annexed into the Indian Union.”

On the other hand, another militant group of Manipur, United People’s Revolutionary Front of Manipur (UPRFM), has also issued a boycott call.

A 25-member Special Protection Group (SPG) team has already arrived at Imphal and heavy security deployments are being made in the capital city of Manipur.