New CMs to be feted at Narendra Modi's rally

NEW DELHI: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to kickstart BJP's election campaign at Ramlila Maidan on Saturday, BJP is working hard to make the rally a grand event. It is expected to be attended by one lakh people.

The party will felicitate the newly-elected chief ministers of Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand and senior functionaries in Jammu & Kashmir. "The CMs and senior J&K office-bearers will be felicitated by the PM. They played a crucial role in the party's stunning performance in these states," said a senior BJP member. Though the timing is not yet confirmed, sources say Modi will address the rally around 12.30pm. He is likely to make key announcements at the rally.

The party will decorate the entire route to be taken by the PM and the three CMs. "We will put up hoardings with congratulatory messages and banners displaying the party symbol. Party workers have been asked to arrange for 1,200 buses. The civic agency has been told to clean the area," said Praveen Shankar Kapoor, media convener of Delhi BJP. Sources say the buses will be parked on Ring Road.

On Tuesday, BJP MP from South Delhi Ramesh Bidhuri, who is in charge of the rally, held a meeting of party workers at Ramlila Maidan and distributed work to them. As for arrangements at the venue, a huge stage has been set up. The ground has been divided into eight parts. The party has also decided to put up 8-10 LED screens for better viewing. "We have asked hospitals to arrange for ambulances and requested Delhi government for mobile toilets," said Bidhuri.

While all 14 party district heads have been told to make arrangements for close to 5,000-7,000 people per district, the transport cell is planning to mobilize auto drivers. "Close to 7,000 auto drivers and 10,000 e-rickshaw drivers are likely to attend the rally," Kapoor said.