Jammu, March 26 (IANS): BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi arrived here Wednesday to launch his party's election campaign.

Modi started his day-long schedule after paying obeisance at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra town.

Modi arrived Thursday morning in a private jet at the Indian Air Force airfield at Udhampur town, 65 kilometres from winter capital Jammu.

From Udhampur, Modi took a chopper to reach Katra, the base camp of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.

After paying obeisance at the shrine, Modi left for the Hira Nagar town of Kathua district where he will address a public rally.

The BJP has fielded two candidates from Jammu region, Jugal Kishore from Jammu and Jitender Singh from Udhampur constituency.

The Congress regional National Conference combine has fielded union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad from Udhampur and sitting MP Madan Lal Sharma from the Jammu constituency.

Some prominent locals including a retired inspector general of police belonging to Jammu region and a Kashmir based journalist are also expected to join the BJP at Modi's Hira Nagar rally.

Retired police officer Farooq Khan has been in the forefront of anti-militancy operations during the 1990s in the Valley.

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