OFBJP – Chicago chapter holds Indian election campaign kick- off meeting “Ab Ki Bar 400Par”

March 12, 2024

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Lightning ceremony performed by OFBJP Chicago Core Group L to R- Hemant Patel, Dr. C.M Patel, Amar Upadhyay, Srinivas Bodige, Rakesh Malhotra, Rohit Joshi, Nirmla Reddy, Rajendra Thakkar, Shailesh Rajput, Jay Shah. PHOTO: Jayanti Oza

On Saturday, March 9, 2024, the Chicago chapter of the Overseas Friends of BJP, held an Indian election campaign kick-off meeting on the theme, “Ab Ki Bar 400Par” at Swaminarayan Shokhda Temple in Schaumburg IL. Roughly translated, the theme means – ‘This time more than 400’ predicting the hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would win more than 400 seats in the legislature come the May general elections.

The lamp-lighting ceremony ‘Deep Prajavalan’ was led by Acharya Rohit Joshi and joined by OFBJP core group members Nirmala Ji, Amar Upadhyay , Rakesh Malhotra, Srinivas Bodige, Joy Shah , Shailesh Rajput , Rajendra Thakkar, Devesh Pandit and Hemant Patel, a note from community member Jayanti Oza, who was present, said.

Chicago area core members listening to speech about “Abki Baar 400 Par”at the March 9, 2024 meeting in Chicago. PHOTO: Jayanti Oza

Prominent members of the community who were present included Dr. Bharat Barai, Ramesh Chokshi from United Sr Parivar, Smitesh Shah from ICNT, Dr. Rashmi Patel from FIA , Ashok Poddar from Silver Senior Parivar, Nirav Patel from VHPA, and Dr. CM Patel from Swaminarayan Sokhda Mandir. Upadhyay described various activities of OFBJP-Chicago chapter over the next two months and appealed to everyone to actively participate and support

keynote speaker Dr. Bharat Barai, speaking at the March 9, 2024, OFBJP-Chicago meeting on Indian elections. PHOTO: Jayanti Oza

Swaminarayan Sokhada Mandir President Dr. C.M.Patel addressed the meeting focusing on the BJP Government’s achievements and called on attendees to support BJP in upcoming election.

Malhotra and Nirmala Reddy described BJP’s achievements in infrastructure development, poverty upliftment, national security, abrogation of Article 370, and India’s economic growth.

All Chicago area core group members and volunteers of OFBJP-Chicago chapter at the March 9, 2024, kick-off meeting for Indian election campaigns. PHOTO: Jayanti Oza

Srinivas Bodige presented the Modi Government’s achievements in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Shreyash did the same for the state of Karnataka, Hemant Patel presented Modi achievements in Gujarat.

Key Note speaker Dr. Bharat Barai shared his experience visiting Ram Mandir Ayodhya inauguration ceremony on Jan. 22, 2024, and his experience as “Kar Sevak” at Ram Janma Bhumi at Ayodhya in the early 1990s. Dr. Barai explained the significance of winning 400 Lok Sabha seats.

The vote of thanks was conducted by Rakesh Malhotra.