Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a massive public rally in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on Friday, drawing thousands of supporters. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray is set to share the stage with the PM, further boosting the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prospects in the state.
Ahead of the rally, BJP workers put up posters across the city to welcome PM Modi, while security was tightened around the venue. The Mumbai Traffic Police issued an advisory, anticipating heavy vehicular movement and potential congestion.
Thackeray’s presence at the rally came after Maharashtra Legislative Council leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule extended an invitation to the MNS chief earlier this week. “Raj Thackeray has supported PM Modi’s Viksit Bharat mission, which has been accepted by the people of Maharashtra,” Bawankule said on Wednesday.
In April, Raj Thackeray had announced his party’s unconditional support to the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which also includes the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
The rally comes just three days ahead of the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20.
Maharashtra, with 48 Lok Sabha seats, is a crucial battleground for all parties. In the 2019 elections, the BJP emerged as the largest party in the state, winning 23 seats, followed by the Shiv Sena with 18 seats.
(Inputs from ANI)