LS election rally, Dussehra celebration: Why Modi keeps going back to Vajpayee's Lucknow

Ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Narendra Modi's choice of venue for his first rally in the new year is symbolic.

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LS election rally, Dussehra celebration: Why Modi keeps going back to Vajpayee's Lucknow
Narendra Modi addresses the Parivartan Rally in Lucknow.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose Lucknow to address his first rally in the new year. Ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Modi's choice of venue is symbolic.

Invoking former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Modi said, "Lucknow is Atal ji's karmbhoomi".

MODI's LUCKNOW CONNECT

  • In the past too, Narendra Modi had tried following in the footsteps of Vajpayee. Last year, the Prime Minister broke away from tradition and celebrated Dussehra in Lucknow.
  • Addressing a huge gathering at the Ram Leela ground in Aishbagh, Modi had delivered a tough talk on terrorism and isolating terrorists. His address came close on the heels of the Indian Army carrying out surgical strikes against terror launchpads across the Line of Control in Pakistan.
Modi celebrates Dussehra in Lucknow. (Photo: PTI)
  • Earlier, Atal Bihari Vajpayee too would often visit Lucknow during festivities. He was elected five times from the Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency. Vajpayee had represented Lucknow in the Lok Sabha from 1991 to 2009.
  • Lucknow holds a special place in Narendra Modi's scheme of things. In March 2014, the then Prime Ministerial candidate for the BJP had addressed the last rally of the first phase of Lok Sabha campaign in Lucknow's Ramabai Ambedkar ground.
  • Once again, he had invoked Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Vijay Shankhnaad rally. "I have learnt a lot from him (Vajpayee). For you, Atal ji was one of your own," Modi had said at the rally.
Narendra Modi at an election rally ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. (Photo: PTI)

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