In an attempt to ensure that Narendra Modi's rally takes place without a hitch, party leaders carried out a puja at the college
Seeking blessings: BJP MLA Girish Bapat along with other BJP members performing the puja at the SP College grounds. Pic/Mohan Patil
Ahead of their prime ministerial candidate’s rally in the city on April 12, the Bharatiya Janata Party carried out a bhoomipujan at SP college grounds yesterday to ensure that Narendra Modi’s rally goes off without a hitch.
Seeking blessings: BJP MLA Girish Bapat along with other BJP members performing the puja at the SP College grounds. Pic/Mohan Patil
Interestingly, the last time the BJP conducted a rally at the premises was in 1992 when former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee addressed thousands of people there. When asked why a bhoomipujan was carried out, BJP leaders said they wanted to avoid any signs of trouble such as the Patna blasts.
ADVERTISEMENT
“In 1992, former prime minister and our senior leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee held a public rally there. After that no rally has been organised by us at the college grounds, as the college management did not allow any political rallies. So, this would be the first rally there after a gap of 22 years,” said the party’s western Maharashtra spokesperson Shripad Dhekane.
Dhekane added another reason for the puja was to ensure that no untoward incident took place as it did in Patna when a series of explosions occurred, killing six people and injuring another 100.
The puja, which took place yesterday, was performed by MLA Girish Bapat.