With Prime Minister Narendra Modi all set to launch the BJP’s election campaign for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls in Hubballi on Sunday, hectic preparations are under way in the city to make the programme a success.
Considering the security restrictions to be in place on account of the National Security Guards(NSG) taking care of the Prime Minister’s security, elaborate arrangements are being made on the 60-acre piece of land near Gabbur Cross on the outskirts of the city.
The site is proposed for KLE Hospital in Hubballi.
As the rally would be the Prime Minister’s first in the State this year, BJP leaders from three Lok Sabha constituencies, Dharwad, Haveri and Karwar, have begun mobilising people, while another group is busy with the arrangements at the venue. Considering the huge crowd and the number of vehicles likely to be used to ferry people to the venue, adequate parking space has been earmarked. A 60 x 40 stage has been erected at a height of 8 ft as the Prime Minister would share the dais with prominent leaders of the party from the State. This apart, there would be two more stages, one for cultural events and the other for the party’s second rung leaders.
The rally is expected to attract a crowd of over three lakh and seating arrangements are being made for 1.5 lakh people. For the convenience of the people, six huge LED screens would be placed at strategic locations.
On Thursday, Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad Deepa Cholan, Police Commissioner M.N. Nagaraj and other officials visited the venue of the public programme and inspected the arrangements. They subsequently held a meeting.
Subsequently, the former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and MP Pralhad Joshi visited the venue and sought information on the arrangements being made.
Foundation stone
Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Joshi said that during the Hubballi event, the Prime Minister would lay the foundation stone for a building for the Indian Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Information Technology in Dharwad. He would also symbolically dedicate a project for giving piped LPG gas connections to households in the city. There would also be the inauguration of a CNG Station set up in Dharwad and the inauguration of houses built under the PM Awas Yojna, he said.