The effect of super cyclone ‘Fani’ became visible in the election campaigning of different political parties in State. As Jharkhand will go to fifth phase of polling on May 6, BJP and Mahagathbandhan had planned a series of election meetings by star campaigners. But the rallies and public meeting were cancelled at last hour on the alert of Super Cyclone ‘Fani’ to hit the State on Friday.
BJP national president, Amit Shah was to address rallies in Koderma, Khunti and Ranchi soliciting support for Annapurna Devi, Arjun Munda and Ranchi candidate Sanjay Seth. Shah’s rallies were planned a week back and State BJP unit had even made preparations for Shah visit. Shah was to reach Ranchi on Friday morning and thereafter had to fly to Koderma in Chopper to address rally in Koderma. After attending rally in Koderma, Shah was to visit Khunti the Lok Sabha seat. After participating in rallies in Koderma and Khunti, Shah in the evening was to address public meeting in Dhurwa in support of Sanjay Seth.
State BJP general secretary, Deepak Prakash said, “The public meetings of our national president were cancelled in last hour due to Cyclone Fani.” Not only, Shah, BJP firebrand leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was to address election meeting in Hazarbag in support of Jayant Sinha. As the campaigning for fifth phase is to end on May 4, political parties had made hectic schedules on their star campaigners.
Due to Fani effect, not only Friday’s public meeting were cancelled, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Chaibasa was also extended by a day. Earlier, Modi was to address a rally on May 5, but as the impact of Fani will be till May 5, the rally will be held on May 6 the day on which Ranchi, Khunti, Koderma and Hazaribag is to go on poll.
Though Amit Shah could not visit State, in his absence Chief Minister Raghubar Das and State BJP in-charge Mangal Pandey addressed scheduled rallies in Khunti and Ranchi. Das reached Khunti via road, where he attacked Congress and Mahagathbandhan parties.
Not only BJP leaders meeting was cancelled, State Congress co in-charge Umang Singhar was to attend public meeting in Chaibasa along with JMM leader and former chief minister Hemant Soren. But the two leaders could not fly from Ranchi due to bad weather.
State Congress spokesperson, Lal Kishore Nath Shahdeo said, “The two choppers today remained stranded in Capital due to impact of Cyclone Feni.” Sources said that scheduled meeting of other leaders such as Jairam Ramesh too was scheduled at the last hour.