File photo of Narendra Modi
Patna:
The BJP is in a zone of feverish activity in Patna to ensure a spectacular rally for its prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, who will be addressing a public gathering in the city for the first time in three years.
This is also Mr Modi's first visit to Patna since his party was served divorce papers in August by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, ending a 17-year alliance. Mr Kumar has attributed the break-up to the BJP's decision to give top billing to Mr Modi, four-time chief minister of Gujarat.
The rally will be held at Gandhi Maidan, which can accommodate over 5 lakh people. But the BJP has been attacked by Mr Kumar's party, the ruling Janata Dal United, and others for advising people to stay at home on Sunday. (For Modi's Bihar rally, tea-stalls and free jalebis)
In media briefings and in public meetings, senior BJP leaders like Mangal Pandey have said that they expect so many party supporters to gather in Patna that it's best for most residents to stay indoors.
Other parties have flayed that warning. "The BJP is trying to terrorize the common man," alleged Sanjay Singh of the Janata Dal United.
"The state government should take action against these BJP leaders who are trying to stop the movement of the common man," said Rabri Devi, who is the de facto head of the Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD because her husband and party chief Lalu Yadav is in jail. (Nitish no Lalu, can't stop Modi, says Rabri)
Under attack, the BJP's leaders have said that their sole aim is to ensure that the residents of Patna know that thousands of vehicles and lakhs of people will be in the city for Mr Modi's rally, and plan accordingly.
The BJP's promise of a large crowd is also a direct threat to Mr Kumar, who for years refused to let Mr Modi campaign for the BJP in Bihar.
After the 2002 riots in Gujarat in which over a thousand people were killed, most of them Muslims, Mr Kumar joined those who alleged that Mr Modi had not done enough to prevent the violence. That stand, the BJP has charged, was based on Mr Kumar's considerable dependence on Muslim voters in Bihar.
This is also Mr Modi's first visit to Patna since his party was served divorce papers in August by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, ending a 17-year alliance. Mr Kumar has attributed the break-up to the BJP's decision to give top billing to Mr Modi, four-time chief minister of Gujarat.
The rally will be held at Gandhi Maidan, which can accommodate over 5 lakh people. But the BJP has been attacked by Mr Kumar's party, the ruling Janata Dal United, and others for advising people to stay at home on Sunday. (For Modi's Bihar rally, tea-stalls and free jalebis)
In media briefings and in public meetings, senior BJP leaders like Mangal Pandey have said that they expect so many party supporters to gather in Patna that it's best for most residents to stay indoors.
Other parties have flayed that warning. "The BJP is trying to terrorize the common man," alleged Sanjay Singh of the Janata Dal United.
"The state government should take action against these BJP leaders who are trying to stop the movement of the common man," said Rabri Devi, who is the de facto head of the Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD because her husband and party chief Lalu Yadav is in jail. (Nitish no Lalu, can't stop Modi, says Rabri)
Under attack, the BJP's leaders have said that their sole aim is to ensure that the residents of Patna know that thousands of vehicles and lakhs of people will be in the city for Mr Modi's rally, and plan accordingly.
The BJP's promise of a large crowd is also a direct threat to Mr Kumar, who for years refused to let Mr Modi campaign for the BJP in Bihar.
After the 2002 riots in Gujarat in which over a thousand people were killed, most of them Muslims, Mr Kumar joined those who alleged that Mr Modi had not done enough to prevent the violence. That stand, the BJP has charged, was based on Mr Kumar's considerable dependence on Muslim voters in Bihar.
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