Narendra Modi's stage set at BKC, US President Obama style

If you find a resemblance between Narendra Modi's stage at MMRDA grounds in Bandra Kurla Complex and the standard arrangements of US President Barack Obama's stage, you can rest assured that it is not a coincidence. According to Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) insiders, Modi's stage in Mumbai, from where he will address a rally today, has been designed to look like the US President's stage. However, no one from the party was willing to officially confirm the news as they claimed that Modi's stage and its arrangements are the surprise elements of the rally.

More than five lakh people are expected to attend Narendra Modi's rally at the MMRDA grounds today. Pic/Deepak Salvi

A senior BJP leader, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "The stage is set and it will resemble the US President's stage. The BJP flag will be positioned the same way the US flag is when the President speaks. The podium will be similar to the US President's podium. Also, only Modiji and no other leader will be visible in every frame."

BJP Mumbai spokesperson Niranjan Shetty evaded the question about the stage and instead said, "The stage and the whole rally will be something that no one has even seen before. The crowd will be humongous and even Modiji's entry is going to be in such a manner that everyone will be surprised. It will be one of its kind." According to the BJP, five lakh people are expected at the rally where nearly five lakh food packets and 10 lakh water bottles will be distributed.

Meanwhile, Rashmi Mirchandani, the secretary of BJP Mumbai, claimed that her party had sent nearly 1.25 crore mobile messages to people and more than five lakh emails inviting the public to the rally. "The response that we got to our messages and emails has been huge. We are expecting a massive crowd at the rally," said Mirchandani.

Will Modi refer to Godhra?
According to party insiders, Modi wants to clarify at the rally that the Godhra riots are not responsible for the 2003 Mumbai bombings. "Even before 2002, there have been various bomb blasts in Mumbai, so blaming Gujarat for the 2003 blasts is wrong," a party insider pointed out.u00a0