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Kolkata’s Brigade ground was known to be a Left bastion for decades and has turned a Trinamool Congress (TMC) stronghold lately. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to have decided to challenge the local leaders on their own turf — and make money, too. The party, which is set to enter this elite political space by holding its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s rally here on Wednesday, has also decided to increase the minimum voluntary entry fee for a seat at the event to Rs 100.
BJP last month started an online registration drive — with an option of voluntary donations as well — for people in the age group of 18 to 40 years. So far, about 22,000 people have registered online and about 18,000 of them have made donations of at least Rs 100 each — many of more than that amount. Though BJP did not officially comment on the total collection, party sources indicated around Rs 25 lakh had come to date.
The party has charged entry fees from people wishing to attend Modi’s earlier public meetings, too — in Hyderabad, Bangalore and Goa — but that was only Rs 5 or Rs 10.
Though the Communist Party of India (Marxist) sees this as commercialisation of an event, BJP defends its move.
“We do not have a strong organisation here. So, we thought we would take help from people wanting to voluntarily support us with donations for the election. It is not that one has to pay to see Modi. The seating arrangement is for everyone opting for online registration. That is to ensure people do not find it difficult to get a seat on the day of the meeting,” West Bengal BJP President Rahul Sinha said.
Funds apart, the very fact that the rally is being organised at the Brigade ground seems to raise eyebrows. That’s because holding a rally at a venue that can accommodate about 800,000 people might be risky — a gathering of anything less than a few hundred thousands could make the event wear an empty look.
Also, the rally comes just a week after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s biggest show of strength at the same venue that was attended by about half a million people. Besides, Modi’s rally will be followed by a rally of the Left, which has never faltered on filling the grounds — even in the face of an electoral defeat — at the same ground.
A direct comparison of the leaders’ crowd-pulling ability, therefore, is unavoidable. BJP is working overtime to avoid any embarrassment for its poster boy. Apart from the youth registering online, there also are 40,000 tea-sellers and 100,000 small traders who have been invited specially for this public meeting. All of them will be given special seating close to the stage.
The party has also issued directives to all its booth-level workers to attend the rally. “There are about 80,000 booths and we have a presence in 70 per cent of those. Everyone is enthusiastic about the rally, mobilising the public to come and listen to Narendra Modi,” Sinha said.
However, there could be a potential spoiler for the party’s big plans; the army, the custodian of ground, on Tuesday has denied Modi’s chopper the permission to land on Race Course ground near the venue. Alleging a conspiracy by the United Progressive Alliance-led central government, Sinha said an alternative arrangement was being worked out.
BJP last month started an online registration drive — with an option of voluntary donations as well — for people in the age group of 18 to 40 years. So far, about 22,000 people have registered online and about 18,000 of them have made donations of at least Rs 100 each — many of more than that amount. Though BJP did not officially comment on the total collection, party sources indicated around Rs 25 lakh had come to date.
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The party has charged entry fees from people wishing to attend Modi’s earlier public meetings, too — in Hyderabad, Bangalore and Goa — but that was only Rs 5 or Rs 10.
Though the Communist Party of India (Marxist) sees this as commercialisation of an event, BJP defends its move.
“We do not have a strong organisation here. So, we thought we would take help from people wanting to voluntarily support us with donations for the election. It is not that one has to pay to see Modi. The seating arrangement is for everyone opting for online registration. That is to ensure people do not find it difficult to get a seat on the day of the meeting,” West Bengal BJP President Rahul Sinha said.
Funds apart, the very fact that the rally is being organised at the Brigade ground seems to raise eyebrows. That’s because holding a rally at a venue that can accommodate about 800,000 people might be risky — a gathering of anything less than a few hundred thousands could make the event wear an empty look.
Also, the rally comes just a week after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s biggest show of strength at the same venue that was attended by about half a million people. Besides, Modi’s rally will be followed by a rally of the Left, which has never faltered on filling the grounds — even in the face of an electoral defeat — at the same ground.
A direct comparison of the leaders’ crowd-pulling ability, therefore, is unavoidable. BJP is working overtime to avoid any embarrassment for its poster boy. Apart from the youth registering online, there also are 40,000 tea-sellers and 100,000 small traders who have been invited specially for this public meeting. All of them will be given special seating close to the stage.
The party has also issued directives to all its booth-level workers to attend the rally. “There are about 80,000 booths and we have a presence in 70 per cent of those. Everyone is enthusiastic about the rally, mobilising the public to come and listen to Narendra Modi,” Sinha said.
However, there could be a potential spoiler for the party’s big plans; the army, the custodian of ground, on Tuesday has denied Modi’s chopper the permission to land on Race Course ground near the venue. Alleging a conspiracy by the United Progressive Alliance-led central government, Sinha said an alternative arrangement was being worked out.
