Ahead of the last round of polling on 20 Assembly seats in Jammu region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charm worked wonders on the electorate as several thousand of them assembled here in the MAM sports stadium on Tuesday after covering a distance of several kilometers, dotted with concertina wire, on foot to listen to his last election speech of 2014 Assembly polls.
Rough estimates by Central and State Intelligence agencies suggested more than 75,000 people were present in the MAM stadium.
Taking advantage of the bright sunny day, people started converging at the venue after passing through stringent security checks since early morning.
To prevent any militant attack thick blanket of security cover was thrown in and around the venue of the rally. Sharp shooters were deployed along the route of the rally venue to tackle any exigency.
Even the vehicular traffic remained suspended for several hours on link roads leading to the venue. Maharaja Hari Singh bridge on river Tawi connecting old city of Jammu with the new township was also closed down for several hours ahead of the rally.
Ahead of his rally in Jammu Prime Minister also visited Billawar Assembly segment in Kathua district where he addressed another impressive rally with a crowd strength of over 30,000 people.
Sensing the mood of vibrant crowds at both the venues, Modi appealed to the voters to elect the BJP Government with full majority in the State to ensure all round development of all three regions.
The last round of polling is crucial for BJP as victory on majority of seats would propel its chances of holding strings of power in its hand after the election results are declared on December 23.
Sticking to the same script of attacking dynastic politics and opportunism displayed by the Congress in previous Assembly polls, Modi urged voters to throw them out of the race by not electing even a single candidate of their parties from these 20 Assembly seats.
Blaming the Congress, National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party for bad governance, rampant corruption and poor development of the State, the Prime Minister said these parties have ruined the future of people of Jammu by doing nothing for development in the last 30 years.
“Reply in the same manner to those who say that BJP will not get a single seat in the Valley,” Modi said pitching voters in Jammu against the Valley voters. “Break all those previous records and go out and cast your votes in full strength to elect a majority Government led by BJP in the State,” Modi motivated electorate.
Referring to the statements of Congress, PDP and the NC leaders that BJP will not get a single seat in the Valley in view of the heavy voter turnout during the first four phases of elections, Modi urged voters of Jammu region, “Reply to them in the similar manner. Make sure that none of them is able to open account in 20 constituencies of Jammu.
“Was this the kind of language to be used in a democracyIJ” he asked. “These people (NC, PDP, Congress) understand the same language.” It is a historic occasion. Identify the culprits and punish them by voting them out of power in the State,” he added.
Polling is scheduled to take place across three districts of Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri on December 20.