“I have never addressed such a big crowd …never before I have seen such huge rally, not even in my 2014 election campaign,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while looking at a huge multitude of people that had descended on the Rama Bai Ambedkar Rally Sthal here on Monday which was choc-a-bloc with party workers.
He said at 10 am when he was in a meeting in New Delhi he was shown photos by a ministerial colleague from UP about the crowd. “I was amazed. I asked whether I am late. This shows you are here since morning and by 10 you have filled this huge ground,” PM said as crowd shouted “Modi, Modi”.
The Rama Bai Ambedkar Maidan has a capacity to hold around 5 lakh people. This ground is indicator of party’s popularity. No other party than BSP has ever filled this rally ground. Other parties have therefore stopped holding rallies there because half-filled ground gives a bad press and send wrong message among workers.
PM could gauge this fact as he saw the ground full to its seam and people still walking in the arteries slowly moving towards the ground as he said: “Some political pundits gauge mood swing on the basis of crowd in rallies. They predict who will win elections. After seeing this crowd I do not think it is hard to guess who will win the state.”
In his speech Prime Minister even said if Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh were watching this meeting on TV they would be happy to see such crowd.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh too said it is not rally but maha –samudra of people. I can see people all around the ground … which is a good sign for the party, he said.
BJP’s rally got a thumbs up not only from PM but also from the common men on the streets. The common question was how BJP managed to bring such a huge crowd because BJP’s crowd pulling capacity is always in doubt.
A beaming BJP state president Keshav Prasad Maurya said that over 10 lakh people have come in this rally. People from all over state have come here. Eight persons from each booth were invited and they came here, he told The Pioneer.
“A meticulous planning has gone in organising rally of such magnitude. People started coming from last night. They fooding and staying was arranged. It was ensured they remain warm. Bonfires were lighted at tents where they were put up for a night,” he said.
The BJP went whole hog in ensuring a big show because Uttar Pradesh result will be seen as a test of PM’s popularity after his risky demonetisation drive, which left India desperately short of cash.
Rajya Sabha member and sacked SP leader Naresh Agarwal said that therse awere not genuine people. They were all hired people therefore there was no enthusiasm among the people.
A cabinet minister in Akhilesh Yadav Government Rajendra Chaudhry said neither kisan nor poor attended this rally, Just a few thousand people attended this meet, he said.