17 May,2024 10:19 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
PM Narendra Modi/ AFP
With barely three days until the fifth round of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to conduct a public rally at Shivaji Park in Dadar, Mumbai, today.
Posters welcoming the Prime Minister have been placed by BJP workers, and security around Shivaji Park has been greatly increased.
In a significant move, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray will take the stage beside Prime Minister Modi. Maharashtra Legislative Council leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule offered the invitation to Thackeray, recognising his support for Prime Minister Modi's Viksit Bharat initiative.
"PM Modi will be holding a rally on May 17 evening at Shivaji Park. I have invited Raj Thackeray to come to the rally. Raj Thackeray has supported PM Modi's Viksit Bharat mission. This has been accepted by the people of Maharashtra. We will benefit from Raj Thackeray's support for the Mahayuti in Maharashtra. I met him today (Wednesday) and invited him to the rally. In the coming days, Raj Thackeray will be supporting Mahayuti," Bawankule told reporters on Wednesday.
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Raj Thackeray declared in April that his party will unconditionally support the Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP.
To avoid traffic congestion during the event, the Mumbai Traffic Police have issued an advise for the Shivaji Park region. Special traffic arrangements will be in effect from 10 am to midnight on May 17.
On Wednesday, PM Modi held a big roadshow in Ghatkopar and spoke at rallies in Kalyan, Thane district, and Dindori. Thousands gathered to meet him, singing chants like "Modi Modi" and "Bharat Mata ki Jai" as his convoy travelled through the city.
Maharashtra, the second-largest state in terms of Lok Sabha seats (48), has concluded the first four phases of the election. The second round of voting will take place on May 20. The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will be held in seven parts, from April 19 to June 1, with vote counting set for June 4.
In the 2019 Maharashtra elections, the BJP won 23 seats, followed by the Shiv Sena on 18 seats.
