Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Apr 12: The city is all geared up to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday April 13, five days before the people here cast their votes in the Lok Sabha elections.
PM Modi will address his 'Vijay Sankalp' election rally at the football ground of Nehru Maidan here at 3 pm on Saturday. The crowd is expected to be massive.
Tight security arrangements are in place to ensure that the rally goes on smoothly. A big number of security personnel have been deployed around the venue and all along the route from the airport.
There are six entrances including the main one to the venue, and those attending the rally will be subjected to thorough security checks at each of these entry points.
A huge stage measure 60x40 feet has been set up at the venue. BJP leaders from both Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts will be on the dais along with Modi.
Sources said that over 1.5 lac people from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod districts are expected to witness the rally. As many as six LED screens have been set up at the venue for their convenience.
To beat the summer heat, marquees (shamiyana) have been put up, but may not be enough to cover the entire ground. Also, due to the model code of conduct, refreshments will not be served, though drinking water will be available.
Senior special protection group (SPG) officers arrived in the city on Wednesday April 10 to oversee the security arrangements. They also inspected the route from the airport to the venue, along with police officers.
BJP's Dakshina Kannada candidate and sitting MP Nalin Kumar Kateel along with other local leaders on Friday April 12 visited the venue and inspected the security arrangements. Speaking to reporters, Nalin Kumar said that BJP workers from 1,861 booths in Dakshina Kannada will be attending the rally. "This rally will set a new record in the political history of Dakshina Kannada district. It will be a bigger rally than the one in 2014," he said.
Though the programme is scheduled to begin at 3 pm, PM Modi will be arriving only at 4.15 pm. Till then, state BJP leaders will deliver speeches.
Thousands of BJP workers are expected to attend the rally dressed as 'chowkidars' (security guards) in a boost to the BJP's 'Main bhi Chowkidar' campaign.