BJP prepares for Modi's rally in Mumbai

Thousands of Bharatiya Janata Party activists are expected to reach the Bandra-Kurla Complex for the 'Maha-Garjana Rally' to be addressed by the party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi here Sunday afternoon.

Party workers from Maharashtra, Gujarat and other parts of the country are expected to attend the rally. The BJP booked 21 long-distance trains, several buses and private vehicles to transport people to and from the venue.

Special invites have been distributed to VVIPs, around 140 consulates and diplomatic corps and even 10,000 tea-vendors for Modi's first-ever rally in the city after his name was announced as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate.

However, in view of the strong sentiments in the incident concerning Indian diplomat Devyani Khboragade and the treatment metted to her, the invitation extended to the US Consulate officials in Mumbai was cancelled at the last minute, BJP general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy said here Saturday.

The BJP has also arranged a dial-a-pick up service for Mumbaikars desiring to attend the rally from different parts of the city, while thousands of women party workers have been deployed to prepare delicious packets of Gujarati snacks like 'Thepla-achar' for distribution among the people.

Mumbai police and other agencies have made elaborate security arrangements for the 'Maha-Garjna Rally' (Mega-Roar Rally) with over 3,000 men, Quick Response Teams, bomb and dog squads at and around the venue.

Besides the star speaker Narendra Modi, BJP president Rajnath Singh, former chief Nitin Gadkari, senior leaders like Gopinath Munde, state party chief Devendra Fadnavis, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Eknath Khadse, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Vinod Tawde will address the rally.