Amid the split of Samajwadi Party in Lucknow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi address the ‘Parivartan rally’ on Monday.

Modi speaking at the rally said “I have never seen such a good turn out for a rally in my life, not even when I was campaigning to be the Prime Minister of the country."

"This (Lucknow) is the home of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Many great people like him have spent their entire lives here," Modi added.

"For 14 years (of non-BJP governments) Uttar Pradesh has been forced into vanvaas (exile) from development," Modi said.

Modi also questioned the Samajwadi Party government why sugarcane farmers in the state were not being paid.

All Union Ministers and MPs from Uttar Pradesh reached Lucknow to take part in the rally.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah, senior leaders Rajnath Singh, Kalraj Mishra and Uma Bharti are among those seen attending the rally.

The people from every corner of the state including Awadh, Kanpur and Brij regions arrived in Lucknow in order to take part in the rally despite the cold weather.

The rally is seen as a top four Parivartan yatras carried out by the BJP in the state recently.

This is the first rally by Prime Minister Modi after the 50-day grace period of demonetisation was expired on December 30.

The Prime Minister also address the nation on New Year's Eve. He announced that several measures will be taken for the rural and urban poor, small businesses, farmers and senior citizens.

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BY M. DIVYA SRI