BJP banks on North Indian leaders to woo Hindi voters in Maha

The BJP is making full use of its prominent leaders from North India to campaign for the party- led alliance in Maharashtra for the October 21 assembly, but the Congress is lagging behind its rival on this front.

Well-known BJP leaders from the Hindi belt, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, have addressed poll rallies in Mumbai and its neighbouring areas, which have a sizeable number of North Indian voters.

Former Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam, a prominent North Indian face of the party in the metropolis, is staying away from campaigning following differences with the leadership over ticket distribution.

Another former Mumbai Congress chief and ex-minister Kripashankar Singh, who, too, has his roots in North India, has left the party.

Besides Singh and Adityanath, several other BJP leaders from the Hindi belt like Manoj Tiwari, Ravi Kishan, Jagdambika Pal and popular Bhojpuri actor Nirahua, among others,