Photo of empty chairs at Amit Shah’s address was taken in Varanasi in 2018

A photograph of home minister Amit Shah on-stage with BJP MP Mahendra Nath Pandey and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath has been juxtaposed with an image of empty chairs with cloth bags kept on them. “भीड़ बुलाने के लिए खाने के पैकेट रखने पड़े” (Had to keep food packets to lure people) is the text inscribed on the collage. This has been shared ahead of assembly elections scheduled in five states.

“This is just the beginning, what will be the end,” is a caption used by one Sandeep Soni to share the images on Facebook. His post received over 8,000 shares as of this writing.

The photos are widespread on Facebook.

A few users have also shared the picture of empty chairs claiming it shows the condition of BJP in West Bengal.

Old images

A simple reverse image search leads one to a report in Live Hindustan published on January 20, 2018. The images were taken when Amit Shah launched ‘Yuva Udghosh’ in Varanasi.

The BJP leaders can be spotted in the same clothes as in the viral image in other pictures of the event uploaded by Live Hindustan.

“The Yuva Udghosh programme is being organised focusing on the youths who are above the age of 17 and will become new voters before the 2019 general election,” reported Business Standard.

Amar Ujala reported that the BJP was expecting a gathering of 17,000 youths however, the turnover was 7,000. “Following the instructions of the administration, policemen started requesting passers-by to attend the event,” it further said.

An image of empty chairs at ‘Yuva Udghosh’ event addressed by Amit Shah three years ago has been shared as recent ahead of assembly elections.