BJP plans big rally in Gujarat, procession in Delhi, aarti at Varanasi

As all exit polls have predicted victory for BJP in the ensuing Lok Sabha election, party workers are preparing for a grand celebration to welcome their prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Saturday, 17 May, at the Indira Gandhi Airport in Delhi. 

On the day of counting of votes, that is on Friday, Modi will be in Gujarat and is scheduled to hold two rallies, one each in Vadodara and another in Ahmedabad.

‘The workers are voluntarily planning a huge welcome ceremony for their most favourite leader. They are placing orders for flowers and sweets (laddoos),’ said Delhi BJP chief Harsh Vardhan. ‘The people of Delhi will come out to celebrate as they will be relieved from the most corrupt Congress government and would get their most favourite leader as the new prime minister,’ he added. 

As per the proposed plan, the senior national and state leaders will gather to welcome Modi at terminal 1D of IGI Airport in Delhi at around 10 am on Saturday. After a formal welcome, Modi’s cavalcade will proceed from the airport to Dhula Kuan and from there to Sardar Patel Marg. It will then go to Teen Murti Marg and from there to Akbar Road, Janpath and finally stop at 11, Ashoka Road, the BJP national headquarters. ‘We have proposed this route to the Delhi police but it’s for Delhi police and security forces to decide the final route,’ said Ashish Sood, Vice President of Delhi BJP.

‘Adequate security and traffic arrangements will be made for the road-show. The senior officers are finalising the plan,’ said Rajan Bhagat, spokesperson of Delhi police. Modi will participate in the meeting of parliamentary board of the BJP scheduled in the evening of 17 May and leave for Varanasi where he is scheduled to attend Ganga Aarti at 5.30 pm.

On Friday, Modi will watch the counting of votes at his chief ministerial residence in Gandhi Nagar. In the evening, after the declaration of results, he will organise a Thanks Giving Rally (Abhar Pradarshan) in Vadodara from where he is contesting. After this rally in Vadodara, Modi will participate in another Thanks Giving rally in Ahmedabad.