The rally was organised to enable the Prime Minister to launch new crop, insurance scheme designed to protect 700 million farmers from natural disasters.

Addressing the massive gathering, estimated to be more than two lakh. Modi promised that the scheme will be much better than the one that existed during Congress-led UPA government, which he succeeded in 2014.

He called the UPA anti-farmer for changing a crop insurance scheme introduced during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government of 1998-2004. The changes made farmers hesitant and they stared keeping away from the scheme, he alleged.

'Now, not more than 20% farmers are willing to opt for the policy. So the first and foremost priority is to restore farmers' faith in the crop insurance scheme,' he said.

Besides, he announced a national agriculture market will be launched on the birth anniversary of the father of the Constitution, BR Ambedkar, on April 14 to help farmers get adequate price for their produce.

The launching of Crop Insurance Scheme in the state was done because of Chauhan having sound standing among farmers. To gather farmers in such a large number in any other state, was not easy for the BJP.

After Kisan Sammelan in the state, there is plan to organise such programmes in three other states namely Karnataka, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. Farmers may prove to be a significant factor in elections to be held in various states in the country.

While the success of Sherpur rally may be a cause for celebration for the BJP in general and Shivraj Singh Chauhan in particular but it caused great inconvenience to the people particularly to the school going children and their parents.

In order to bring crowd to the venue of Modi's programme, the government ordered seizure of buses from the private transporters. In order to heed to government's orders transporters, not only stopped plying passenger buses but also such buses which are used to bring school children. It is estimated that more than five thousand buses were seized by the government and were used to bring people to the Prime Ministers meeting. Almost all the affected parents were angry over the government's decision.

Meanwhile the Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh high court on February 18, issued notices to the state government over use of school buses for the PM's rally.

In Indore alone more than 1,000 school buses were attached by the district administration to ferry farmers to the 'kisan rally'.

'The PM's rally is not a show neither is it a welfare activity for the nation, then why the common citizens have to face so much inconvenience. This is not an arena to show off strength. Those who want to attend will come willingly for the rally; they do not have to be collected by public transport,' Archbishop Leo Cornelio told the media.

'It is sad to see children struggling in exam time,' he added.

Some schools in Bhopal such as Kendriya Vidyalaya, Campion School, Carmel Convent, BHEL and International Public School made alternate arrangements for their students so the exams could go on as planned.

'We had planned our final exam time table month ago, and suddenly the bus association informed about their engagement so we were helpless. We had to conduct the exam anyway,' said Winston Minj, PRO Campion school.

Other schools, including St. Joseph's Convent, Idgah Hills, Bal Bhawan and Holy Family, decided to declare a holiday instead. Also a bus plying school children to St Joseph's Convent in Itarsi was allegedly stopped midway and the vehicle was redirected to the rally.

'We did not want our children and teachers to get troubled and hence we had no option but to declare a leave,' said Sister Lily, principal, St Joseph's Convent Bhopal, adding that no prior notice to arrange for alternative transport was issued by the Regional Transport Office.

Taking cognisance of the trouble caused to schools because of the attachment of buses, an association of schools filed public interest litigation in the court of Justice SC Sharma.

'The school buses have special permit to ferry students. We had asked the state government to explain under what provisions of the law it had attached the buses,' the petitioner's counsel Gaurav Chhabra said.

Though the rally was mammoth and participation was massive but the response of the crowd was lukewarm. There was not 'Modi, Modi' slogan and also no applause which is to be a permanent feature of Modi's public meetings. During his speech Chief Minister Chauhan asked the people 'Kya achche din a gaye' (whether happy days have arrived). The crowed remained mute.

Does it mean decline in Modi's popularity?. Many journalists also heard people enquiring from each other whether they have received the money premised to them. Whatever may be the implication of rally on Modi's standing Chauhan has emerged as the singular beneficiary of the programme. Modi must have been impressed by the organising capability of Chauhan both in winning election and collecting crowd. (IPA Service)