Sunday, 24 November 2013
The Maharaj Umaid maidan overflowed with people who wanted a glimpse of BJP's prime minister candidate Narendra Modi even though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had on Saturday warned that terrorists may try to disrupt assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Some people even travelled 50 km to listen to their 'sher' (lion) and
the usually vacant roads of Kota on a Sunday was filled with vehicles
carrying supporters to the ground.
Chants of 'Modi, Modi' reverberated like 'Sachin, Sachin' as the BJP leader took to the podium.
Modi, who could not hold the rally on a bigger venue at Ramlila Maidan on account of security issues, played to the audience standing outside Maidan saying that the ground may not have enough space for them, but they have a bigger place in his heart.
Modi's attempt to make his speech interactive by involving the crowd had a telling impact on the people who would break into raptures every now and then.
While the ground was packed on Saturday when UPA chairpersons Sonia Gandhi addressed the gathering, Modi lived to his reputation of being a bigger crowd puller. There was not even an empty space on the boundary walls of the ground. The balmy evening on Sunday seemed to be winning over the day's harsh sun.
Notwithstanding the security concerns raised by the prime minister, the entry to the ground was lax and no metallic scanner was used and people flowed in without check unlike Sonia Gandhi's rally where a meticulous body scanning was done.
Modi's rally was a much awaited event in the city as many youths in the maidan who were passionate in their support said the BJP leader is a lion and the country needs a strong leader like him to bring order and development to the country.
Before Modi arrived, BJP candidates contesting the assembly elections from Kota including Prahlad Gunjal and Om Birla had worked up the crowd with their forceful speeches and the people seemed to have found the mood when finally Modi came out to speak.
Chants of 'Modi, Modi' reverberated like 'Sachin, Sachin' as the BJP leader took to the podium.
Modi, who could not hold the rally on a bigger venue at Ramlila Maidan on account of security issues, played to the audience standing outside Maidan saying that the ground may not have enough space for them, but they have a bigger place in his heart.
Modi's attempt to make his speech interactive by involving the crowd had a telling impact on the people who would break into raptures every now and then.
While the ground was packed on Saturday when UPA chairpersons Sonia Gandhi addressed the gathering, Modi lived to his reputation of being a bigger crowd puller. There was not even an empty space on the boundary walls of the ground. The balmy evening on Sunday seemed to be winning over the day's harsh sun.
Notwithstanding the security concerns raised by the prime minister, the entry to the ground was lax and no metallic scanner was used and people flowed in without check unlike Sonia Gandhi's rally where a meticulous body scanning was done.
Modi's rally was a much awaited event in the city as many youths in the maidan who were passionate in their support said the BJP leader is a lion and the country needs a strong leader like him to bring order and development to the country.
Before Modi arrived, BJP candidates contesting the assembly elections from Kota including Prahlad Gunjal and Om Birla had worked up the crowd with their forceful speeches and the people seemed to have found the mood when finally Modi came out to speak.
