Lotus, not Kher, in PM address

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 14

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election pitch today was more for “phir ek baar Modi sarkar” than for party candidate Kirron Kher.

During his nearly 40-minute-long address, he did not mention Kher’s name even once. Modi did not even ask the public to vote for the BJP candidate. All he said was, “Your vote on kamal will go to Modi’s account”.

His speech revolved around national issues and attacking the Congress. Rather than making it a Kher versus Pawan Kumar Bansal battle, it seemed to be a Modi vs Bansal battle in the city. On the other hand, Bansal has been raking up local issues while campaigning.

During his address, Modi targeted Bansal over Railgate. “A former Railway Minister’s kin is caught in a corruption case, but for the Congress, it’s ‘hua toh hua’,” said Modi.

Record crowd at rally, claim leaders

City BJP leaders claimed that over 30,000 people attended Modi’ rally and it broke the record of his 2014 election rally.

City BJP president Sanjay Tandon said, “Over 30,000 people came for the rally. There were more people outside the venue than inside. I had got an LED installed outside the venue so that those who fail to find space inside can watch the address there. People were seen on terraces, trees and outside gates to have a glimpse of the PM.”

“The record of the 2014 rally of the PM has been broken, both in terms of size and josh,” he said.

Cong workers sell pakodas

• An hour before Modi’s arrival at the venue, Youth Congress workers sold pakodas outside the ground.
• At least five workers, who were wearing black robes, which are worn while being awarded degrees, were rounded up by the police. They were later released.