PM Modi roadshow in Bengaluru: PM Modi held a massive roadshow today (May 6) in Bengaluru which passed through around 13 Assembly constituencies. This roadshow will be held in two parts on Saturday and Sunday as part of the BJP's campaigning for the May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Karnataka on Friday (May 5) for the final leg of poll campaigning.
The 26-km mega roadshow will be held between 10:00 am and 1.30 pm from Brigade Millennium of JP Nagara to Maramma Circle in Malleshwaram in Bengaluru Central. Over 10 lakh people are expected to take part in the road show.
The second leg of the roadshow will commence at 10:00 am in Bengaluru on Sunday (May 7).
Modi's roadshow timings changed due to NEET exams:
Keeping NEET examinations in mind, the Karnataka BJP made changes in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day roadshow in Bengaluru, ahead of the Assembly polls in the state, by scheduling an extensive event on May 6 and a shorter one on May 7, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje said on Friday.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is scheduled on May 7 (Sunday).
"PM Narendra Modi's road show will be on May 6 and 7, preparations are on for it. We had shared information in that regard to the public through the press. However, you (media) people informed us about the NEET exams on May 7 at 2:00 pm, and the 26 km roadshow will cause inconvenience for (students writing) exams," Karandlaje said. Speaking to reporters, she said, this was brought it to the notice of the Prime Minister, and Modi who pays special attention to children with initiatives such as 'Pariksha pe Charcha', asked us to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to even a single student going to the exam centre at any cost.
So the PM directed the state BJP to make changes in the programme, she said, as desired by him, certain changes have been made in the programme.
"Earlier we had said on May 6 that there would be a 10 km road show, and on May 7 it would be 26 km. Changing that we will be now holding long distance one of 26 km on May 6 from Someshwar Bhavan RBI Ground in Bengaluru South to Malleshwaram's Sankey Tank between 10 am to 1.30 pm, and shorter one of about 10 km one between Kempegowda statue at Thippasandra to Trinity circle, that can be completed soon, will be held on Sunday from 10 am to 11/11:30 am, she said.
Further noting that not many exam centres are located on the stretch where the roadshow will be held on Sunday, she said if there are any students coming from that region, on showing their hall tickets, police officials have been directed to ensure that they reach exam centres on time. The roadshow, earlier scheduled to be held for eight hours on Saturday alone, was then split into two parts- on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 1. 30 pm to prevent inconvenience to the general public in case the rally is held for a full day.
Accusing the Congress of conspiring to disrupt the roadshow on Saturday, by getting the ambulances linked to their workers and well-wishers or hospitals run by them, at places along the stretch of 26 km which the PM is likely complete in about 3 hours, Karandlaje said, they have conspired to bring a bad name to the Prime Minister's roadshow.
"We have requested the police to ensure that ambulances with patients reach the hospitals on time without any hindrance, we have also discussed with SPG in this regard. We are following up things," she said.
Bengaluru Police Traffic arrangements:
Previous roadshows of PM Modi:
Earlier on April 29 (Saturday), PM Modi had conducted a 5.3-kilometre long roadshow in Bengaluru that passed through various locations in the city including Magadi Road, Nice Road Junction and Sumanahalli.
On May 7, PM Modi will also address four public meetings in different parts of the state. PM Modi is also expected to visit Karnataka on the last day of the election campaigning for which preparations are already on.
Even during the Gujarat elections, Prime Minister took out a roadshow of more than 25 kilometres covering 19 assembly constituencies of Ahmedabad. Earlier, on Tuesday, Prime Minister held a mega roadshow in Kalaburagi.
During the roadshow, people queued up on both sides of the road through which the Prime Minister's cavalcade passed and cheered for him. They also showered flower petals on him. While riding on the top of a truck, PM Modi greeted people by waving his hands. The BJP is eyeing a second term in the state and has exuded confidence in retaining power with a full majority.
Voting will take place on May 10 and the results are out on May 13.
Congress party against PM Modi's road show:
The Congress party had appealed to the Election Commission not to permit the roadshow of PM Modi. However, the Commission has given a green signal. The ruling BJP is hoping to recover from the anti-incumbency factor with PM Modi's visit. The Bajrang Dal ban proposal has also helped the BJP to gain grounds at the fag end of election campaigning in Karnataka.
The BJP has challenged Congress to ban Bajrang Dal and claimed that it has "insulted" Lord Hanuman. The party also aims to wrestle a major chunk of 28 seats of Bengaluru city with PM Modi's outreach to voters.
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