Bharatiya Janata Party prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will, on Sunday, arrive at the rally venue by helicopter. Addressing a press conference here on Friday, BJP State president Pralhad Joshi said that Mr. Modi will reach the Palace Grounds by helicopter from HAL Airport, where he would arrive from Ahmedabad. After the rally, he will use the same helicopter to return to the HAL airport. A helipad has been built next to the rally area within the Palace Grounds, as Mr. Modi is avoiding road journey for security and traffic reasons.
About 3.5 lakh party workers have registered for the rally by paying a commitment fee of Rs. 10 per head, Mr. Joshi said.
The party workers would come from different parts of the State in 10 special trains, 2,500 buses and 2,000 cars. Arrangements have been made for those arriving by trains to take bath at various marriage halls in Bangalore, while the party has tied-up with various maths and religious institutions near Bangalore to provide such facilities for those coming by buses.
About 5,000 volunteers have been drafted for organising the event and 300 food counters, fed by six kitchens, have been set up at the venue, he said. The rally was being held on 60 acres of land, divided into 28 blocks for security purposes. As many as 40 giant LED screens have been put up.
The BJP will provide a booklet comprising literature on its ideology, Mr. Modi’s achievements and the UPA government’s failures at the rally, he said.
To queries, he said there was no confirmation yet on whether Mr. Modi would visit the Art of Living Centre on that day.
Launching a counter attack on the Congress leaders who had sought details of accounts related to the rally, he said that the Congress did not have moral right to make such a demand as it is facing allegations of misusing funds collected for the flood victims.