The scheduled rally of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has stirred up controversy and has put district administration and the ruling coalition against the party on using Ranchi's Morhabadi ground for the much awaited rally.
Although, the venue was booked by Jharkhand State Khadi & Gramodyog Board (JSKGB) before the BJP could submit its request, the party has decided to go ahead with its preparation to hold the rally at Morhabadi ground. The board had submitted the application in June for organising the annual exhibition.
Modi is scheduled to hold a massive rally in Ranchi on December 29 to begin campaigning for the next lok Sabha elections.
The party, after its core committee meeting on Monday, urged the district administration to allow it to hold the rally at Morhabadi ground which is a common and popular venue for political parties for organising rally. The 'Vijay Sankalp Rally' — as it has been named — holds significance for BJP, which has also urged other political parties not to create hurdles in the preparation for the grand event ahead.
"Morhabadi ground has always been a popular venue for organising political rallies, so I would urge the district administration to allow us to use the place for the proposed rally," said BJP core committee member Bal Mukund Sahay adding, "I would ask other political parties to keep their suggestion of shifting the venue to them."
Earlier, the district administration had rejected the BJP's request of
allowing Morhabadi ground for Narendra Modi's rally and in the emerging scenario left the decision of obliging the BJP on the organisers of the exhibition — the Khadi board.
"They (BJP) had applied but the venue was allotted much earlier. Now it is up to the organisers of the event (Saras Mela) whether they will use the venue or not," said Deputy Commissioner Ranchi, Vinay Kumar Choubey.
Notably, the Khadi Board ruled out postponing the 20-day exhibition beginning from December 17.
They onus has been put on the incumbent Government to take a call on BJP's request of allowing the rally at Morhabadi ground. "This is a government function so the government has to decide on the request made by them (BJP). I will go as the government decides," maintained Chairman JSKGB, Jainendu.
Significantly, the BJP will hold a series of meetings of various committees formed for managing the rally at district as well as at the state level till and vowed to bring in people across socioeconomic spectrum to the venue.