Mysuru: If last week was the turn of All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Rahul Gandhi, who took on the BJP at a series of ‘Janashirvad Yatra’ in North Karnataka, this week is the turn of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take on the Congress in Mysuru, Chief Minister Siddharamaiah’s home turf — the place where the BJP is desperately trying to make inroads into.

Modi will launch his election campaign in this part of the State called Old Mysuru region — crucial constituencies for the BJP — as he will address a massive rally at the BJP conference at Maharaja’s College Grounds in the city between 3.45 pm and 4.45 pm today. Before the rally, the PM will commission the electrified railway line between Mysuru and Bengaluru and flag off the new Humsafar Express train linking Mysuru with Udaipur.

Modi, who arrived at the Mysore Airport at 11 pm last night stayed at Hotel Radisson Blu on M.G. Road where the Special Protection Group (SPG) has taken over 100 rooms for PM’s stay and security. The hotel resembled a Fort Knox since last night with the inner security layer taken over by SPG and the outer and boundary security taken over by the Reserve Police Force. Special teams have come from New Delhi to provide a security layer to the PM.

Modi began his official engagements this morning at 11. Through a special Video Conference facility arranged at Radisson Blu, he inaugurated the World Congress on Information Technology or WCIT in Hyderabad. The Congress is being organized for the time in the country which will have the who’s who of the global IT industry in attendance.

Though the official machinery was tight-lipped about Modi’s other engagements, sources told Star of Mysore that Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala arrived at the hotel at around 11.45 am. He met the PM and had discussions with him.

AT SHRAVANABELAGOLA

At 1.15 pm, Modi left to Shravanabelagola in his helicopter to participate in the 88th Mahamastakabhisheka of Bahubali.

At the Jain pilgrimage centre, Modi will inaugurate newly constructed 50-bed Bahubali General Hospital and new stairs that have been constructed just before the mega event. The Prime Minister will also address devotees at Chavundaraya Mantap where President Ram Nath Kovind participated in a function early this month.

As reported earlier, Modi, who is visiting Shravanabelagola for the first time, will not shower flowers on the Bahubali statue from helicopter as the 200-metre area around Vindhyagiri Hill shrine has been declared no-fly zone by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

BACK TO MYSURU

Modi’s helicopter is scheduled to leave Shravanabelagola at 2.35 pm and is expected to land at the Maharaja’s College Cricket Grounds at 3 pm. From there, he will proceed to the Mysuru City Railway Station by road.

The Railway Station has been barricaded and public entry has been banned. Even media entry has been barred considering the Railway Station is a small place.

Policemen and the Reserve Police force have taken over the place and only passengers arriving at the station from different locations are being allowed to exit. Metal detectors have been installed at entry points and luggage is being examined.

Arrival of trains at platforms has been changed and many passengers were directed to use the CFTRI-side entrance.

The Humsafar Express has been stationed at Platform No. 1 for Modi to give the green signal and its engine has been kept in ignition mode.  

The front portion of the train has been decorated for the VVIP flag off.

ROADS BARRICADED, GUARDED

After commissioning electrified Railway line between Mysuru and Bengaluru and flagging off the new Humsafar Express train, Modi’s cavalcade will move towards Maharaja’s College Grounds where he will address a public rally.

His convoy will proceed on Jhansirani Lakshmi Bai Road (JLB Road) and the entire stretch has been barricaded and sanitised. Public vehicle entry on the roads has been banned and alternative arrangements have been made for the traffic flow. Even footpath entry has been barred.  

Several roads around the Radisson Blu Hotel were blocked in view of the PM’s security and the Police had made announcements on alternative roads. Despite this, many residents reached their destinations late as they had to take a detour.