Two mega rallies in Mumbai today: PM Modi at Shivaji Park, INDIA bloc with Arvind Kejriwal at BKC

MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address his final public rally in Maharashtra for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections at Shivaji Park in Dadar on Friday. With this one, Modi will complete 18 rallies in the state.

An INDIA bloc rally will be held at BKC's Pathaka Maidan the same evening. The two rallies are a show of strength for the rival alliances and to swing fence-sitters in their respective favour. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is not attending the INDIA bloc rally.

It is the last phase of elections in Maharashtra. Elections will be held on May 20 for 13 parliamentary constituencies in Mumbai, MMR and North Maharashtra.

Modi's roadshow in Ghatkopar on Wednesday received a tremendous response from the public with people lining up on either side of LBS Marg in large numbers to greet and see him. BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule specially called on Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray inviting him to attend the public rally. In the 2019 elections Thackeray had campaigned against the BJP and his "laav re toh video" (put on the video) criticising Modi were a huge hit. This is the first time Thackeray will be sharing the stage with Modi. Thackeray ensured civic permission for the rally. He has also released a teaser video of himself and Modi. The PM is expected to arrive at the rally at around 7 pm.

The BJP has allied with MNS in the hope that the party's Marathi vote in Mumbai, Thane and Nashik will be transferred to the Mahayuti. The contest is expected to be close on most seats in Mumbai. The BJP is contesting the Mumbai North-East, Mumbai North-Central and Mumbai North seats while its ally, the Shiv Sena, is contesting the Mumbai-South, Mumbai South-Central and Mumbai North-West seat.

As for the INDIA Bloc, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Delhi CM and AAP president Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray will address the rally.

Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray invited Kejriwal to address the rally. "On May 17, the MVA's final rally will be held. So we have invited him (Kejriwal) and he has accepted the invitation. On the same day, Narendra Modi is also in Mumbai," Raut said.


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