Bangalore has been plastered with Modi posters.
will be in Karnataka today, the only south Indian state his party ever ruled before losing it to the Congress in Assembly polls in May this year.
The rally is likely to disrupt traffic and normal life in Bangalore with unprecedented security measures in place. Hundreds of senior police officers along with more than 4000 policemen have been deployed for the rally. 80 CCTV cameras have been installed at the venue.
State capital Bangalore has been plastered with Mr Modi's pictures and life-size cutouts and the BJP's flags. The party has reportedly spent Rs 20 crores on the event to be held at the Palace Grounds, a large public space in the heart of the IT hub.
The BJP claims nearly three lakh people have bought tickets at Rs 10 each to watch Mr Modi. The collected money will be donated for the installation of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue in Gujarat, a fond project of the 63-year-old leader.
In April this year, the BJP's star campaigner had failed to lift his party's chances in the state, despite drawing large crowds in Mangalore and Bangalore, when he visited the state ahead of the Assembly elections.
The BJP's first ever Chief Minister in south India, BS Yeddyurappa, despite being a Modi fan, is no more with the party, having floated his own outfit, the Karnataka Janata Party, last year.
Mr Yeddyurappa's supporters had put posters in Bangalore showing the two leaders together, though the powerful Lingayat leader denied knowing about them. (
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Ever since Mr Modi was named the BJP's presumptive PM, there has been speculation that the 70-year-old leader could merge his party with the BJP. Mr Yeddyurappa has repeatedly ruled out a merger but has said his party will be happy to support a BJP led by Mr Modi.