Railway officials pointed out that the special trains could delay the regular rail services. "Some long-distance trains, including the Rajdhani Express, that run through Bihar and Jharkhand, would be delayed due to the special trains," an official said.

This is the first time the RJD chief is holding a rally here after he was ousted from power in the 2005 assembly polls. All eyes are on this rally because the turnout will indicate whether or not his support base is still intact.

"The rally will set a new record as over one million people are expected to attend it," a RJD leader said.

Upbeat RJD leaders and party workers have put up hundreds of welcome arches, hoardings, flags and banners in the state capital -- all in the party's official green colour.

"RJD's green billboards and graffiti are visible everywhere in Patna," said Sahdeo Manjhi, a rickshaw-puller and Lalu Prasad sympathiser.

The green arches and hoardings have virtually taken over Gandhi Maidan, Dak Bungalow Square, Ashok Rajpath, Boring Road and Station Square.

Shakeel Ahmad Khan, a former Communist leader, made it clear green is to the RJD what red is to the Communists and saffron to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"Yes, entire Patna has turned hara-bhara (full of green)," Khan said.

Pictures of Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi have also been plastered on all hoardings, banners and billboards.