Narendra Modi, LK Advani share stage at a rally in Bhopal
New Delhi:
Narendra Modi and LK Advani shared the stage in Bhopal today, for the first time since the BJP named the Gujarat Chief Minister its prime ministerial candidate overriding the objection of its senior-most leader.
Mr Modi and Mr Advani flanked BJP chief Rajnath Singh on the stage, which was packed with virtually the entire BJP leadership.
Around one lakh people have gathered at the Jamboree Park venue, where Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya had to sing to entertain the restless crowd waiting for the BJP's prime ministerial candidate to arrive.
On September 13, Mr Advani had stayed away from a crucial meeting called to make the Modi announcement, blowing to bits BJP president Rajnath Singh's fondest hopes of a show of unity and strength. In the fortnight since, the veteran has made some conciliatory moves by offering praise for Mr Modi and the party hopes today's rally in election-bound Madhya Pradesh will piece together a united picture again.
About 24 hours before the Bhopal mega-rally, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was spotted at the venue, overseeing preparations. The host has taken no chances with potentially fragile egos; a gigantic cut-out of every top leader of the party towers over the venue. A golden chariot will serve as a podium from where the leaders will speak.
"We are all together, the whole BJP is coming here to give its blessings," said Mr Chouhan, who is seeking a third term as Chief Minister in the Assembly elections due by November this year and had reportedly requested Mr advani to attend today's rally. Mr Advani has often strategically praised Mr Chouhan's administrative efficiency, to pit him against Mr Modi, who prides himself on good governance.
But since the Modi announcement earlier this month, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister has gone out of his way to demonstrate that he is on the same side as the party's presumptive PM.
Today, he has to do a balancing act in more ways than one.
For one, the rally could end up being a Modi show. There is reportedly also the fear that Mr Modi's presence could dent Mr Chouhan's popularity with people in his state who see the Gujarat Chief minister as a divisive leader. Mr Chouhan likes to project that he appeals to minorities in his state too. Mr Modi is still accused by political rivals of not having done enough to prevent the communal riots in his state in 2002, in which hundreds of Muslims were killed.
The BJP says five lakh party workers are attending the rally, each of whom is paying a Rs. 5 entry fee; 11 special trains were organised to bring people in from different parts of the state.
Mr Modi and Mr Advani flanked BJP chief Rajnath Singh on the stage, which was packed with virtually the entire BJP leadership.
Around one lakh people have gathered at the Jamboree Park venue, where Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya had to sing to entertain the restless crowd waiting for the BJP's prime ministerial candidate to arrive.
On September 13, Mr Advani had stayed away from a crucial meeting called to make the Modi announcement, blowing to bits BJP president Rajnath Singh's fondest hopes of a show of unity and strength. In the fortnight since, the veteran has made some conciliatory moves by offering praise for Mr Modi and the party hopes today's rally in election-bound Madhya Pradesh will piece together a united picture again.
About 24 hours before the Bhopal mega-rally, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was spotted at the venue, overseeing preparations. The host has taken no chances with potentially fragile egos; a gigantic cut-out of every top leader of the party towers over the venue. A golden chariot will serve as a podium from where the leaders will speak.
"We are all together, the whole BJP is coming here to give its blessings," said Mr Chouhan, who is seeking a third term as Chief Minister in the Assembly elections due by November this year and had reportedly requested Mr advani to attend today's rally. Mr Advani has often strategically praised Mr Chouhan's administrative efficiency, to pit him against Mr Modi, who prides himself on good governance.
But since the Modi announcement earlier this month, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister has gone out of his way to demonstrate that he is on the same side as the party's presumptive PM.
Today, he has to do a balancing act in more ways than one.
For one, the rally could end up being a Modi show. There is reportedly also the fear that Mr Modi's presence could dent Mr Chouhan's popularity with people in his state who see the Gujarat Chief minister as a divisive leader. Mr Chouhan likes to project that he appeals to minorities in his state too. Mr Modi is still accused by political rivals of not having done enough to prevent the communal riots in his state in 2002, in which hundreds of Muslims were killed.
The BJP says five lakh party workers are attending the rally, each of whom is paying a Rs. 5 entry fee; 11 special trains were organised to bring people in from different parts of the state.
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