It has all the components of the Big Fat Indian Wedding — the pandal, flowers, LED screens, security, latest audio system, innovative stage and transport. The only thing missing though would be a bride and the groom.
The Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party is sparing no expense to make sure that it makes a grand impression on the party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, who also happens to be face of the party for the Delhi assembly elections.
The party had unveiled an elaborate stage design on Tuesday but it chose to keep mum on the cost of the rally. Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel had said that a lot of it was “sponsored”.
“We haven’t worked out the cost yet. The funding is partly through sponsors, party workers and supporters. Everyone wants to do their bit for the rally,” said Vijender Gupta, convenor of the committee formed to oversee the rally preparations.
The party is even hiring e-rickshaws which will provide last-mile connectivity to those coming to attend the rally. “This will help the senior citizens who can’t walk for two kilometres or so. The buses will have to stop at a certain distance from the rally venue,” said Gupta.
According to sources, ticket-seekers and BJP workers have been pitching in for the rally. “Everyone has been assigned different responsibilities. The Delhi BJP will be arranging 3,000 buses on its own. However, a number of traders’ associations would also be arranging buses,” said a senior BJP leader.
{{/usCountry}}According to sources, ticket-seekers and BJP workers have been pitching in for the rally. “Everyone has been assigned different responsibilities. The Delhi BJP will be arranging 3,000 buses on its own. However, a number of traders’ associations would also be arranging buses,” said a senior BJP leader.
{{/usCountry}}The party is also planning to hire a helicopter for Modi to arrive at the venue and the cost for ferrying him from the airport to the venue, including the pilot charges is expected to run into lakhs.
“They should make public the source of fund for the rally,” said Manish Sisodia, spokesperson, Aam Aadmi Party.