Modi’s Delhi rally Sunday: BJP expects major boost

New Delhi : The BJP is laying a lot to store by the rally here Sunday morning by its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and has pulled out all stops to make it a grand success.

The Organisers say they expect at least 500,000 people at the rally in a park in north Delhi’s Rohini.

With the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and party in disarray over Rahul Gandhi’s outburst, criticising his own government’s ordinance as “complete nonsense”, has not only discredited Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s position in the public eye but has given enough fodder to the opposition that Modi is bound to capitalise on.

Named ‘Vikas rally’ (development rally), the BJP is also hoping that Modi’s charisma will give the deeply divided Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state, where it has been trounced in the last three elections in 1999, 2003 and 2008, a much-needed booster shot.

Hectic preprations have been on as hundreds of party workers are trying to ensure the rally’s success at Rohini’s Japanese Park with a sophisticated sound system, giant screens for people not directly in the line of sight and simultaneous propagation through the social media.

“We are expecting over 500,000 people at the park and we want everyone to see and listen to him (Modi) loud and clear,” BJP leader Vijender Gupta, former state BJP chief told IANS.

Dozens of CCTV cameras and hundreds of private security guards will keep an eye on the massive crowd and there is a possibility that Modi, for security reasons, may arrive at the venue, about 30 km from the city centre, in a chopper.

As it is a Sunday, the Modi show will be aired live by television channels to national and international audience.

The entire Delhi BJP leadership is expected to be on stage with Modi in a show of strength and solidarity.

The show will start at 10 a.m. but Modi is expected to come on stage only after noon. Modi is expected to give a ‘state of the nation’ address, covering all areas of policy, from economics to diplomacy.

BJP had sent invitations to 45 foreign missions, of which 36 has accepted, convenor of BJP’s overseas cell Vijay Jolly said. He added that they have not invited Pakistan High Commissioner because of the recent incursions and killings on the Kashmir border.

“Modi would be speaking on issues like price rise and corruption. How the governments at both the centre as well as in Delhi have failed. He will be attacking both the Congress governments,” Gupta said.

Around 3,000 policemen and para-military will provide security in and around the venue.

The Delhi BJP is also expected to take advantage of the occasion to announce the names of its candidates for the Delhi assembly elections, expected around November.