The BJP has almost laid siege to Allahabad for its national executive meeting, scheduled to be held on June 12 and 13.
The BJP has almost laid siege to Allahabad for its national executive meeting, scheduled to be held on June 12 and 13.
According to reports, the BJP unit has booked around 400 air-conditioned rooms for the guests and around 100 rooms have been booked in Varanasi district. Allahabad does not have too many air-conditioned “A” category hotels so all the government guest houses and motels have been booked to capacity.
Guests house of BSNL, railways, which come under the Central government, have also been booked for the event.
“We will have around 500 VVIP guests, including Union ministers, state ministers, chief ministers and MPs, and all of them will come with their security personnel. Since Allahabad alone does not have enough hotels, we will be putting up some of the guests in Varanasi which is about 131 kilometres away,” said a member of the BJP unit in Allahabad.
The idea of putting up Swiss tents for the guests had to be given up because of inclement weather conditions and the sweltering heat.
Taxis, mainly luxury cars, are also being booked from adjoining districts since Allahabad also cannot fulfil the party’s demand.
A huge pandal, measuring about 500x380 metres and which is fire, water and storm resistant, will be set up. The tent, made of aluminium rods and imported sheets, would also have a 1,600 sq. ft. VIP lounge. It will also have a 192-feet dais, while in the front there would be around 400 chairs for the national executive members. The entire floor of the tent would be covered by plywood which will be four inches above the ground.
A temporary 100x80 feet office for the PM, with a VVIP lounge and a modular kitchen, would also be set up.
The parade ground where PM Narendra Modi will be addressing a rally on Sunday is expected to attract a crowd of over five lakh.
The food served during the event would be pure vegetarian, including Gujarati, Maharashtra and South Indian delicacies.
The party will be bringing a “plane-load” of journalists from the print media and TV channels in Delhi. Journalists representing foreign publication are also expected to be among the guests.
This is the first time that the BJP national executive is being held in Allahabad. The last national executive was held in Lucknow, five years ago in 2011.
