Narendra Modi lands in Kolkata today for his first ever election rally in West Bengal. A last-minute hitch over permission for his helicopter to land was sorted out late last evening. (Modi’s chopper gets landing permission hours after alleging it was denied)
An excited BJP, a minor player in the state, says it expects a crowd at the Brigade ground venue to rival the five-lakh plus people that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee drew at her rally last week.
After cribbing about security arrangements, the party has ensured tight security. Apart from the city police, a team of Gujarat cops are camped in Kolkata. About 100 Gujarat Police cops have in the last few days reviewed arrangements.
Watchtowers and CCTV cameras have been put up at strategic locations and armed personnel are posted on high-rise buildings.
While he is expected to attack the Congress as usual, Mr Modi’s speech will be watched closely to see what he will say about Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In a speech in Uttar Pradesh a few months ago, Mr Modi had said in seeming admiration, “Mamata fights for Bengal; what do (UP leaders) Akhilesh, Mayawati do for you?”
Ms Banerjee has been a part of a BJP-led coalition at the Centre many years ago, but she recently accused Mr Modi, without naming him, of pursuing “communal politics.”
The state BJP hopes its prime ministerial candidate will bring with him a “Modi wave” that will change its fortunes in the Bengal in time for the general elections due by May. It’s best performance so far has been two Lok Sabha seats in 1999.
But you would not know it in Kolkata, where the party has organised road shows and runs and walks with workers sporting Modi masks. Party workers have distributed “NaMo sweets.”
23,000 people registered online to book seats at today’s rally; only those between 18 and 40 years of age could books tickets online. Most of those who registered have also donated between Rs. 2 to Rs. 100, but the BJP says seating in the special enclosure will be on a first come first served basis.
