As the marathon election process inches towards its final leg, the stage is set for a massive showdown between the BJP and the Election Commission (EC) over “denial” of permission for Narendra Modi’s rallies in his Varanasi parliamentary constituency.
Alleging that the District Magistrate, who denied permission for three events was “biased”, while the EC was a “mute spectator” to its complaints, the BJP went on the offensive saying it would hold protests and repeat Modi’s massive show of strength as he did on the day of filing his nomination.
Though the district administration gave permission for the events barring a rally, the BJP rejected it saying it has come too late in the evening as it would not be able to advertise its events, adopting a more aggressive stance.
Modi would ride in his car from the helipad set up at the Banaras Hindu University at 4.30 pm and go through some of the busiest areas in the city to meet his supporters at his election office, the BJP said. Modi’s “drive” through the city has also been planned as Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to hold his road show on Saturday when the campaign for the last phase of Lok Sabha election would end.
The BJP is set to turn the denial of permission into a huge political issue by making Modi show his might in the Lok Sabha seat which holds the key to his prime ministerial dreams.