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.