With an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has started preparations for the Ardh Kumbh Mela, to be held at Allahabad in January 2019. In a bid to improve the BJP’s poll prospects, the Centre and the state government are expected to leave no stone unturned to make the mela a huge success.

Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Sidharth Nath Singh and several state officials, including Allahabad Municipal Commissioner Harikesh Chaurasia, met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu Friday to discuss details about the preparations.

The Uttar Pradesh government is expected to spend Rs 2,500 crore on preparations for the Ardh Kumbh, out of which the Centre may provide Rs 900 crore, said Singh.