In a turn of events, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Yavatmal for a women’s self-help group gathering has become the center of attention due to an unusual sight – chairs adorned with the images of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The preparations for the event, managed by Shinde’s Shiv Sena in collaboration with the Bharatiya Janata Party, took an unexpected turn as a subset of the arranged chairs carried stickers featuring Rahul Gandhi’s likeness.
The extensive preparations for Modi’s visit included earmarking a 9 lakh square feet venue with approximately two lakh chairs to accommodate the anticipated crowd. However, the organizers were surprised to find that a considerable number of chairs retained the campaign imagery of Modi’s political adversary, Rahul Gandhi.
The venue, with its sprawling 47-acre auditorium, is set to host Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar, and several cabinet ministers alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The images of Rahul Gandhi on the chairs originated from their prior use at one of his meetings in Nagpur and were transported to Yavatmal by the contractor.
The unintentional promotion of Rahul Gandhi’s political campaign imagery in the midst of Modi’s event has raised questions and sparked controversy. As the gathering is scheduled for 4 pm, there is speculation about the removal of the images before the commencement of the meeting.
