Narendra Modi owes Muslims, Irfan Pathan joins BJP brigade

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Vadodara, Dec 12: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi must be relieved after sending a strong message for his critics who have been slamming him for snubbing minorities in the state. The Chief Minister owed the Muslims when the star cricketer of the state Irfan Patan joined him on stage during election campaign in Kheda on Wednesday, Dec 12.

The cricketer, who could not play the ongoing India-England series due to injuries, shared the stage with Modi. The Vadodara boy's surprise visit to Modi's rally impressed many.

Modi has been facing stern criticism since Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced that the party will not give a single ticket to any Muslim candidates for the upcoming assembly elections.

Star power may bring special advantage for Modi power at a time when election is knocking at the door. Gujarat Assembly Elections 2012 will take place in two phases: First phase is slated on Dec 13 and second phase on Dec 17. The counting will take place on Dec 20, 2012. Gujarat has 182 assembly constituencies.

Recently, former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan praised the progress in Gujarat and said that she felt completely at home in the state.

Analysts say Rai's endorsement for the state should not really come as a surprise because her father-in-law and Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan is already a brand ambassador for Gujarat tourism. But, there is a contradiction, Aishwarya's mother-in-law Jaya Bachchan is a Rajya Sabha member from Samajwadi Party (SP). And SP is vocal against communal forces in the country.

OneIndia News