Son of the Soil Shami Strikes National Pride with Drumbeats

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, exuding enthusiasm in Amroha—home to Indian pacer Mohammed Shami—brought an air of festivity to the rally attendees on polling day.

PM Modi, known for expressing his respect for Shami on multiple occasions, once again spoke highly of the fast bowler. He showcased his musical talent by playing a gifted dholak and lauded Shami’s achievements as Amroha’s pride. During his address, he remarked upon Amroha’s dholak receiving a GI tag and how Shami’s prowess resonated as ‘desh ka danka.’

In his rally address, he accused prior administrations of misleading SC, ST, and OBC groups under the guise of social justice. He assured the crowd that the BJP was working towards realizing the visions of Jyotiba Phule, Dr. BR Ambedkar, and Chaudhary Charan Singh.

Speaking in support of BJP candidate Kanwar Singh Tanwar from the Amroha Lok Sabha constituency, PM Modi urged all citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

Modi stressed the importance of youth participation in voting to shape a prosperous future for themselves and the nation. Criticizing the INDIA bloc, he claimed their strategies were pushing villages backward. He was joined on stage by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

As voting progressed in eight western Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha constituencies during the general election’s initial phase, Modi addressed the rally. These areas, known for their Jat and sugarcane heritage, include Saharanpur, Bijnor, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina (reserved), Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit. Amroha’s constituency will vote in the second phase on April 26.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has allied with the Rashtriya Lok Dal, while the Samajwadi Party is collaborating with the Congress party. Meanwhile, the Bahujan Samaj Party is running independently. In the first phase of polling, 80 candidates—73 men and seven women—are vying for seats.

The Election Commission reported 1.43 crore eligible voters in the first phase, consisting of 76.23 lakh men, 67.14 lakh women, and 824 transgender individuals. Data from political entities suggest Muslims represent 35% to 50% of these constituencies’ electorate.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa shared that 14,849 polling booths across 7,689 centers are being utilized for the election. To guarantee stringent security, 6,018 inspectors and sub-inspectors, 35,750 constables, and 24,992 home guard personnel are deployed, alongside 60 Provincial Armed Constabulary companies and 220 Central Armed Police Forces companies.