All eyes on Modi’s Lucknow rally, his key announcement

New Delhi: With controversies and criticism over the demonetisation move raging before the crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, all eyes are now on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Parivartan Rally in Lucknow on January 2, where he is expected to make some “important announcement.”

Also, the BJP has activated its entire machinery to ensure that this Maha Parivartan Yatra, last of the seven scheduled Parivartan Yatras of the Prime Minister, is attended by seven to eight lakh people from across the state. This rally is being described as a “mahakumbh” of all rallies that the state has seen so far and the BJP leadership has given task to its leaders and workers, in more than 13,050 sectors of the state, to match the target for the gathering at this “maha rally.”  

Last month, the BJP had flagged off four “Parivaran Yatras” from four corners of UP — Saharanpur, Jhansi, Sonebhadra and Ballia — which touched all the 403 Assembly constituencies and covered a distance of more than 17,162 kilometres. Mr Modi’s Lucknow rally would be culmination of these yatras, which the BJP leaders claimed received “tremendous response.”

With good governance and development as its main poll planks, the BJP is desperately trying to end its more than 14 years long “political vanvaas” in this politically crucial state. Unlike its opponents, the BJP has no chief ministerial candidate and is banking entirely on the Prime Minister’s popularity and initiatives taken by the central government. Being the “star campaigner” and “face” of the party, Mr Modi would be addressing more rallies in the election-bound state.

“Not just the people (of Uttar Pradesh) even the God is with us. Our political opponents also organised yatras (SP), roadshows (Congress) and rallies (BSP) to kick start their campaign but they met with bad omen. Someone’s rath broke down barely travelling for two kilometers or someone fall sick or people died due to a stampede in a rally, these were bad omen. But look at our Privartan Yatras... Such tremendous response we received. We addressed sabhas even as late as 8 pm and saw huge crowds  waiting for us. These are signs that even the God is with us,” said BJP state general secretary, Swatantra Dev Singh.

A separate “vyavastha” team has been set-up, which is in regular touch with leaders, till the booth level, and also monitoring the progress. Senior leaders are also camping in districts to make sure that are no hurdles are faced by party workers. From each sector a minimum of one bus will be leaving for Lucknow for the “maha rally” with supporters and workers. The party is also making sure that essential items like food and water are available to workers and supporters at regular interval, if they are coming from far off places like Gorakhpur, Ghaziabad, Agra and Bijnore.

“It will be just like mahakumbh...mahakumbh of all rallies. No matter what our opponents say. people have faith in Narendra Modi and they know his every decision will help them and the country in prospering,” said another state general secretary, Ashok Katariya.