From victory pillar, a ride through Vadodara

Duliram Pedawala, owner of a popular sweets shop, in Raopura distributed free peda.

Narendra Modi went on a roadshow in Vadodara beginning at Kirti Stambh, the victory pillar opposite Lakshmi Vilas Palace, a central part of the old city built by Sayajirao Gaekwad III. It was the last day of filing nominations and he did so.

Riding an open jeep, dressed in a full-sleeve cream kurta and orange sleeveless jacket, Modi arrived nearly an hour late to beating of drums and chants of ‘Modi…Modi’ by huge crowds of men sporting saffron caps and scarves and women wearing the traditional nine-yard saree waiting with diyas to welcome him.

One of them, Jayshreeben Korane, said, “Two hundred of us have come to welcome Modi”.

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Accompanied by ministers Anandi Patel, Saurabh Patel, Nitin Patel, state unit chief RC Faldu and campaign convenor Purshottam Rupala, Modi’s cavalcade crawled through Khanderao Market, Rajmahal Road and Raopura before reaching the collectorate at Kothi.

Maltiben Nayak, 67, who has been running Siddheshwari tea stall on this road for several years, braved the crowds to watch Modi flashing the victory sign. “But of course I’ll vote for the BJP,” she says.

Shameembano Malek from Pittamitar mohalla on Rajmahal road stood watching alongside an excited bunch of women. Asked whom she would vote for, she said, “Modi”. Mohammad Iqbal, from the same mohalla with over 60 Muslim houses, said he supported Modi because of the goodwill of the local BJP corporator. “We have come to welcome Modi, we feel he is a good person,” he said.

Mahendra Kapoor’s patriotic numbers, ‘Chak de India’, and a parody version of ‘Shirdi wale Sai baba’, blared out from speakers as the cavalcade passed through different areas. Every 500-odd metres people from different communities — Valmiki Samaj, Pattni (Modi) Modh Ghanchi Gnyati Samaj, Rashtriya Muslim Manch — had set up a stage to welcome Modi.

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“For me all are the same, what does it matter?” asks 76-year old Kalubhai Haji Gulam Md Patel, a former Vadodara Municipal Corporation employee.

As the open jeep approaches, Modi is showered with rose and marigold petals and Brahmins chanted shlokas and blew the conch.

Naseembano Doodhwala and her neighbours from Akbari Mohalla on Rajmahal road wait with excitement for a glimpse of Modi. “We will vote for BJP, because local leaders have promised we will get edible oil tins and jaggery.” she said.

More than Modi, they would vote BJP because of Bhupendrabhai Kachhiya, a former corporator whose wife Gita is now the corporator. “We are only concerned with people who do our work, and Bhupendrabhai is always available. For the last two years we are voting BJP because of him,” says Naseembano.

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All of Akbari mohalla, however does not go with them. Zakir Husain, a local businessman from here standing with a group of curious onlookers, says, “So far we have been voting for the Congress. In any case this government believes only in advertisement”.

College student Riddhi Patel, a first-time voter, carried a banner saying: Mere jeevan ka pehla mat Bhajapa ke naam (the first vote of my life will be for the BJP). “He is a crowd puller, a mass leader. I cannot think of any leader other than him,” she said.

Duliram Pedawala, owner of a popular sweets shop, in Raopura distributed free peda. “This is for Modi’s victory,” he said waiting for a glimpse of Modi.

At a garments shop in Jubilee garden in Raopura all the mannequins were dressed in saffron. Raopura assembly constituency is a BJP bastion represented by BJP MLA Yogesh Patel.