Thousands of JD-U activists expected in Nitish's rally

Thousands of Janata Dal-United activists are expected to attend the March 17 rally of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Delhi's Ram Lila Maidan, demanding special-category status for Bihar. More than 10,000 people reached Delhi on Friday to take part in the rally, senior JD-U leader Sanjay Jha told PTI.

"We expect at least 30,000 more will be there from across the state tomorrow," said Jha, a close confidante of Nitish, who has been associated with organising the rally for nearly a month.

All Delhi bound trains from Bihar are full with JD-U activists leaving for Delhi to attend the rally. East Central Railway's Chief Public Relation Officer Amitabh Prabhakar said, coaches were reserved from Raxual, Samastipur and Jhajha to take people to the national capital.

Party sources said, JD-U ministers, parliamentarians and legislators are touring different parts of Delhi and NCR to mobilise support for Sunday's rally. Food Minister Shyam Rajak, who visited Badarpur, Wazirabad and Lakshmi Nagar today said, Biharis living in Delhi are enthusiastic to participate in the rally.

His ministerial colleague Renu Kushwaha toured Faridabad, Burari, Noida, Azadpur  Mandi and Nazafgarh.

Other ministers such as Narendra Singh, Bhim Singh and Awdesh Kushwaha are holding street corner meetings in Delhi and NCR for the rally. The party has also started a campaign 'Bihar ka haq' on the Net -- in Facebook, Twitter and Youtube and a website biharkahaq.in.

Live telecast of the rally will be made at the website, Jha said. The Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council also witnessed depleted attendance during the budget session as majority of JD-U ministers and legislators are in Delhi to drum up support for the rally.