New Delhi: After a string of state poll reverses left his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bruised and his image as an inveterate winner tarnished, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday plunged into a potentially bitter campaign to wrest the Congress-ruled Maharashtra and Haryana states where elections are due on October 15. Results are expected on October 19.

Jammu and Kashmir was also due to go to polls around now but the flood havoc has forced a postponement.

In Haryana, bordering Delhi, the BJP is leaning on a campaign to severely punish Muslim butchers over allegations they were indulging in cow slaughter, illegal in the state. The Congress government has denied it.

In Maharashtra, Mr Modi addressed three rallies on Saturday where he attacked the alliance of Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which ruled Maharashtra for 15 years.

“After Uttar Pradesh, maximum number of communal riots happened in Maharashtra. Who is responsible for these? Those who ruled for 15 years failed to relate with people,” Mr Modi was quoted as saying at an election rally in Mumbai.

“While Amitabh Bachchan hosts Kaun Banega Crorepati show, the Maharashtra government used to play Kaun Banega Arabpati every day,” the Prime Minister added.

Targeting NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Mr Modi said: “A state where so many farmers commit suicide and their leader is union minister for agriculture.” He also said: “A contest of ‘who will criticise Modi more’ is going on within Congress these days. If someone hurls two allegations against me, other person hurls three.”

Urging voters to elect a stable government led by the BJP, Mr. Modi said: “Mumbai is a mini-India ... our mantra is Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. We want to take everyone together and work for development. And the mantra has become so famous that Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is resonating in America too.”

However, in his speeches in Maharashtra, Mr Modi refrained from talking about the Shiv Sena, with whom his BJP parted ways after 25 years over seat-sharing for the forthcoming assembly polls.

Earlier, starting his campaign in Haryana’s Karnal, the PM said: “I want you to vote for the BJP so that it forms the government with full majority. Change is important if you want to move forward. Make Haryana free from the Congress’misrule”.

Mr Modi will address 8-10 rallies in Haryana and two dozen rallies in Maharashtra over the next 10 days.

Mr Modi referred to his visits to Japan and the US and the visits of the Australian and Chinese heads of State to India, pointing out how engaging with these countries would benefit Maharashtra. Both China and Japan were collaborating with India to build industrial parks in the State, he said. He added that the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail would also benefit Maharashtra. “I want to secure the lives of Maharashtra’s youth, ensure skill development and create a web of small-scale industries,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 5th , 2014