PM Modi will address rallies at Dehri-on Sone, Gaya and Bhagalpur.
Patna:
With the campaign for Bihar’s elections in its final week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address public rallies around the state today for their respective coalitions. Organizers on both sides ensured adequate security measures were being taken for the events amid concerns over the growth of coronavirus infections.
Prime Minister Modi will address three rallies – in Dehri-on Sone, Gaya and Bhagalpur – to solicit votes for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the state. Kumar is expected to join Prime Minister Modi at rallies in Dehri and Bhagalpur, the PTI news agency reported.
“Tomorrow I will have the opportunity to be with my brothers and sisters in Bihar. I will be speaking at gatherings in Sasaram, Gaya and Bhagalpur. During this time, I will present the NDA’s development agenda to the people and ask for blessings for their alliance, ”PM Modi tweeted Thursday.
Congressman Rahul Gandhi is also expected to strike the ground for the three-phase elections which begin next Wednesday. He will address two gatherings at Hisua in Nawada and Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district.
Tejashwi Yadav, the main ministerial face of the “Grand Alliance” which includes the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and left-wing parties, will likely join Mr. Gandhi in Hisua, where Congress candidate Neetu Singh takes the place. from BJP MP Anil Singh, PTI reported.
BJP has already lined up its spotlight for Bihar polls with union ministers Rajnath Singh, BJP chairman JP Nadda and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, addressing a number of public gatherings .
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman released the party’s manifesto on Thursday, including the pledge of free vaccines for state residents.
While Nitish Kumar himself attended four to five public meetings each day and also addressed virtual gatherings, his rival Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD organized eight to nine events in the absence of his father Lalu Yadav who is in prison.
The cameos of PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi are expected to increase tension in polls unfolding amid the COVID-19 crisis that has required extensive security measures. However, the scenes of political rallies have also raised concerns about the widespread violation of these rules.
Party officials and sources told the PTI News Agency that special measures were being taken to ensure the safety of participants at the two leaders’ rallies.
According to a report, the Special Protection Group guarding Prime Minister Modi has taken over the venues where the Prime Minister will hold his protests.
Chairs were arranged for nearly 15,000 people at Gandhi Maidan in Gaya with adequate social distancing. No one will be allowed to enter the rally grounds without a face mask, they said.
While the PM and a handful of NDA leaders will be on the main stage, a separate platform has been set up nearby for the candidates, PTI reported.
At Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Kahalgaon, attendees will be provided with face masks and disinfectants, organizers said.
Bihar will vote in three phases on October 28, November 3 and 7 for a new government and the results will be announced on November 10.
