BJP 'Karyakarta Mahakumbh' in Bhopal LIVE: We accept Gandhi, Lohia as well as Deen Dayal, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah today addressed the largest congregation of party workers in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. According to party claims, over 13 lakh people are said to be participating in 'Karyakarta Mahakumbh' at Jamboree ground in Bhopal today.
BJP workers from 65,000 polling booths spread across the 230 Assembly seats in the state are said to be taking part in the programme, party sources told media. PM Modi reached Bhopal for the event around noon and is expected stay in the state capital for almost three hours.
BJP president Amit Shah also spoke at the event, ‘Karyakarta Mahakumbh’ (grand assembly of party workers), being held on the occasion of birth anniversary of Hindutva icon and Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) co-founder Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.
Here are the Updates on 'Karyakarta Mahakumbh' in Bhopal:
02:43 pm: Vote bank politics has destroyed the country like termites. Thus, if we must free the nation from this damage caused over 70 years by defeating Congress: PM Modi
02:40 pm: We accept Gandhi, Lohia as well as Deen Dayal, because we believe in cooperation, says PM Modi
02:32 pm: It is an honour to be part of world's largest party, says PM Modi
02:27 pm: PM Modi addresses BJP Karyakarta Mahakumbh in Bhopal
02:17 pm: PM Modi has toiled to earn respect and honour for India internationally: Amit Shah
02:16 pm: Congress, which is responsible for making Madhya Pradesh a bimaru state, demands votes in the names of royals and businessmen: Amit Shah
02:13 pm: Nation will demand an answer from Congress for its corruption, for not taking policy decision, for risking country's security. What face will Congress show among public to seek votes: Amit Shah
02:10 pm: BJP workers have to take the party to each household and each booh in next two months: Amit Shah
02:05 pm: BJP is today servicing people residing in the 70 per cent of the nation's geographical area: Amit Shah
02:00 pm: BJP President Amit Shah addresses the gathering
01:15 pm: PM Modi, Amit Shah reach the venue and pay tribute to Pundit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. The prime minister is expected to address the massive gathering shortly.
Massive preparations for 'Mahakumbh'
Extensive preparations have been made to accommodate expected strength of party workers at the Jambooree Maidan in Bhopal's BHEL locality. The venue has been named as “Atal Mahakumbh Parisar” in memory of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away in New Delhi in August.
At least 11 pandals have been set up to cook and serve food to the participants. Menu includes two vegetables, lentils, sweetdish, rice, salad and accompaniments.
According to India TV reporter on the ground, the scale of the event coud be judged from the fact that the organisers had to bring in chairs from adjoining states like Gujarat and Rajasthan as entire Madhya Pradesh did not have enough of them to cater to this event.
The party has booked nine special trains from different parts of the state to bring BJP workers for the event, a party spokesman told media.
Thick security cover
Police have made elaborate security arrangements for the high-profile event and also Modi’s visit. “We have made adequate security arrangements for the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday by deploying nearly 6,000-strong force, including 4,000 personnel from the central and reserve forces,” Inspector General (IG) Bhopal Jaideep Prasad told PTI.
Nearly 22 senior IPS officers have been deployed to coordinate security details, he said.
Poll-bugle
The 'Karyakarta Mahakumbh' is BJP's poll-bugle for Madhya Pradesh, which is going to polls by year-end along with Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.
Modi and Shah, two star poll campaigners of the BJP, will be in Bhopal days after Congress chief Rahul Gandhi visited the state capital.
Gandhi held a roadshow and later addressed Congress workers and office-bearers during his September 17 visit. Both the national parties are in poll campaign mode in the state, where the BJP is in power since 2003.
While the saffron outfit will seek a fourth straight term in office in the year-end elections, the Congress will look to wrest power from the BJP in a state which was once its stronghold.
Congress hits back with Twitter campaign
The main opposition party in Madhya Pradesh, Congress on Monday left a dent in BJP's glory of holding the 'world's largest assembly of people' ahead of MP Polls 2018. A hashtag shared by MP Congress' Twitter handle was trending, it claimed that BJP's event was an assembly of theives.
Watch the full report here:
(With inputs from agencies)
