As Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be visiting state capital on Friday it would be the first visit of any Prime Minister in 11 years. last time Dr Manmohan Singh had visited lucknow on September 2005.
“Atal Bihari Vajpayee was frequent visitor to lucknow as this being his Parliamentary constituency. After BJP lost power to Congress Dr Manmohan Singh, as Prime Minister, had come to lucknow only once in 2005 that too to launch gold scheme,” a senior official told The Pioneer.
The PM’s day programme will start with visit to Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, where he will flag off a new express train ‘Mahamanaya express’ and thereafter will distribute artificial limbs, tricycles and other equipment to ‘divyangs’ (physically challenged persons).
In in his around four hour stay in lucknow Modi will attend three functions including convocation of the Baba Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), distribution of e-rickshaws at Colvin Taluqedar’s College and visit to Bharatratna Bodhisatva Babasahab Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Mahasabha. PM will be received at Amausi airport 1330 hours by UP Governor Ram Naik, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and lucknow Mayor Dinesh Sharma.
This will be the only programme where the CM will be present. Governor and Union Home Minister will accompany PM to BBAU and his visit to Ambedkar Mahasabha, which is seen as a political gesture to woo dalits in the wake of the coming UP assembly polls. PM is expected to stay there for 30 minutes and is expected to fly back at 1715 hours.