Modi set to storm Cong stronghold of Rae Bareli

Prime minister Narendra Modi is all set to corner former Congress president Sonia Gandhi in her Lok Sabha constituency of Raebareli on Sunday.

Modi will be launching the modern rail coaches manufactured in the Lalganj rail coach factory in the constituency besides addressing a rally.

The saffron party claimed that the rally would be historic as it prepares to launch its campaign to return to power in the 2019 Parliamentary elections..

According to BJP sources in Lucknow, the party plans to bring around two lakh people from nearby districts of Santi Ravidas Nagar, Prayagraj, Kaushambi and others for the rally.

''District unit presidents have been asked to bring at least 25,000 people from their respective areas,'' a senior BJP leader told DH on Saturday.

This rally would be Modi's first visit to Raebareli in the past 19 years.

He had last visited the constituency in 1999, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister and Congress rebel Arun Nehru had contested from there.

BJP leaders said that the Congress had done precious little for Raebareli.

''The constituency has developed after the BJP came to power... We have ensured its all round development,'' Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said.

Adityanath had visited the rally's venue and the rail coach factory on Friday to oversee preparations.

The rally comes two days after the Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging the Rafale deal and it will be interesting to see if the prime minister speaks on Rafale deal at the rally.

The BJP has sought Congress president Rahul Gandhi's apology for what they claimed telling lies to the nation.

The prime minister will also be visiting Prayagaraj, where he will perform a 'puja' on the banks of the 'sangam' (the confluence of River Ganga, River Yamuna and the mythical River of Saraswati).