Maharashtra BJP has ambitious plans for Narendra Modi's Mumbai rally in December
The BJP in Maharashtra has said it will raise Rs 25 crore ahead of Narendra Modi's first rally in Mumbai after being named the party's Prime Ministerial candidate for 2014.
The party plans to gift this money on December 22, the day of Mr Modi's rally, to BJP president Rajnath Singh, for the party's campaign for the national election due by May.
With a little over a month to the rally, the BJP's ambitious fund-collection drive relies mainly on the sale of coupons worth Rs 100, 500 and 1,000 to people.
"It has been a tradition with the BJP to collect election funds from the people, through public contribution," said state BJP president Devendra Fadnavis at a press conference today.
"We want people from all walks of life and all fields to be part of the rally and we will register youngsters online."
In the 2009 Lok Sabha election, the BJP's Mumbai unit had gifted the party Rs 11 crore collected from the people, claims Mr Fadnavis.
Mr Modi's rally will be held at Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex grounds. This will be the first of four major rallies in the state, says the party.
The state unit says it expects a huge response to the rallies after Mr Modi's short visit to Mumbai on September 30, when hundreds of supporters came to the airport to catch a glimpse of their leader and even blocked traffic on the highway.
Mr Modi was then felicitated by the city's Diamond Merchants and weighed in silver. He also pitched his ideas for brand India as keynote speaker at an event for advertising professionals.