A flower shower for Rajnath

WEDNESDAY’S SAFFRON show in the state capital, on the occasion of Rajnath Singh’s first visit here after becoming the BJP national president, was unprecedented in more than one way.

Counting heads, vehicles, garlands or slogans was next to impossible as Rajnath set out for his impressive three-hour road show and delivered what partymen termed as his ‘Main Hoon Na’ message to the party’s voters and his supporters alike.

So one saw Suresh Tiwari, BJP MLA from Lucknow Cantt, running in front of Rajnath’s cavalcade (alternately running and pillion riding), Kusum Rai waiting patiently at the Barabirwa crossing for several hours and city BJP president Jaipal Singh doing duty inside the warning car that announced the arrival of BJP’s national president from a distance.

The big names too figured in the show with state BJP president Keshari Nath Tripathi escorting his national boss along the route and Lalji Tandon saying a quick “welcome” at the airport.

The State BJP, it did appear, had left no stone unturned in making the show a super success. So were all the talks of differences in the state BJP rank after Ranjath’s elevation utter rubbish? Not really, if one looks at the fact that three top guns, former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, former state BJP presidents Vinay Katiyar and Kalraj Mishra were missing both at the airport and in the procession.

“No, no,” said Jaipal Singh, adding,  “Kalyan Singh and others are waiting at the state BJP party office.” But people and party workers made one forget about the missing big guns at the airport.

After climbing up and down for the umpteenth time, Rajnath Singh finally came a striking distance from the Vidhan Sabha around 6 pm. Right opposite the magnificent dome of the House stood Amit Puri, Rajnath’s right hand man. And when Puri’s floral canon started firing the 21-floral salute, Rajnath was not the only one who stood there, impressed. There were scores of onlookers who watched the floral-show replete with 21 kg floral crown, floral garland weighing 1.5 quintal, 2.5 quintals of petals opposite the giant hoarding, also put up by Puri only.

Micky Mouse too was there as was Jumbo the elephant along with Bhojpuri folk artists specially arranged for the occasion by Puri. There were 2 quintals of sweets ready to be distributed after Rajnath Singh touched them and disappeared inside the party office. The area around Vidhan Sabha resembled a carnival-zone.

Today at least, Vidhan Sabha appeared to be a stone’s throw away from the saffron brigade’s reach. Tomorrow, as they say, is another day.