Ahmedabad:
First a 'sadbhavna' fast, and now plans of a massive rally. Narendra Modi is flexing some serious political muscle.
The Gujarat Chief Minister will hold a mega rally - his partymen promise it will be "the mother of all rallies" - on Sunday, September 25. The slogan of the rally: "
Anyaya Hatao, Gujarat Bachao" (Get rid of injustice, save Gujarat).
Mr Modi claims around five lakh people will take part in it, including senior BJP leaders like LK Advani. It will be held on Behgaon Road between Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad.
Only last weekend, the Gujarat Chief Minister had virtually launched an election campaign with a much-hyped three-day fast for communal harmony - an obvious attempt at an image makeover as he prepares for a larger national role. A big rally so soon is aimed at keeping up the momentum generated by the sadbhavna fast, which saw the participation of big crowds and many big BJP leaders and some those of allied parties.
Sunday's rally is also being held just three days ahead of the next court hearing on Mr Modi's plea against the appointment of Gujarat's Lokayukta. Last month, in a snub to the Chief Minister, Gujarat Governor Dr Kamla Beniwal bypassed his government and appointed retired High Court judge RA Mehta as the state's new Lokayukta. The Modi government moved court against the appointment, pending that Mr Modi and his government were not consulted.
The BJP claims the Governor's move violates Article 163 of the Constitution, which states that the Governor of a state must act on the advice of the Council of Ministers. The party has alleged that the Governor is acting upon the instructions of the Union government.
Mr Modi has also called a two-day session of the state Assembly on September 27 and 28 and he plans to amend the Lokayukta Act to ensure that the state government or the Chief Minister have a decisive say in the appointment of the ombudsman.
The critical post had been lying vacant for almost eight years. The Governor reportedly consulted legal experts before choosing Dr Mehta. Mr Modi had suggested that the Lokayukta be selected by a committee that included three ministers, the Leader of the Opposition Congress party, and the state's Chief Justice. The Governor had rejected that proposal.
The last Gujarat Lokayukta, SM Soni, retired in 2003. It took the Modi government three years to approve a replacement suggestion. But three years later, the then Gujarat Governor rejected the suggestion on technical grounds.
Since then, the Opposition Congress says it has submitted four suggestions but the BJP government says Opposition's lack of cooperation held up the appointment.