Traditional music, dance, non-stop ‘Modi Modi’ sloganeering from Bharatiya Janata Party cadre, who gathered in large numbers on either side of the Thyagaraya Road (Pondy Bazaar) in the heart of Chennai city, welcomed BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi who held a roadshow on April 9, canvassing votes for his party candidates in the Lok Sabha polls.
The roadshow started near Panagal Park in T. Nagar with reverberating slogans hailing Mr. Modi. Members of the BJP and its alliance partners, along with a large number of the public, particularly from the neighbouring areas such as West Mambalam, Teynampet, and Saidapet, gathered on either side of the road to welcome the Prime Minister. The cadres of the BJP showered flower petals on the Prime Minister, who wore traditional veshti and shirt. Throughout the stretch, he waved at the energised crowd and campaigned for the BJP candidates by showing the ‘Lotus’ symbol.
Amid “Jai Shri Ram”, “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, and “Meendum Modi Vendum Modi [we want Modi once again]” sloganeering of the enthusiastic crowd, the Prime Minister’s flower-decked vehicle passed through the two-kilometre stretch of Pondy Bazaar slowly to reach Teynampet signal. The party’s candidates Tamilisai Soundararajan (Chennai South), R.C. Paul Kanagaraj (Chennai North) and Vinoj P. Selvam (Chennai Central) accompanied the Prime Minister in his vehicle along with State president K. Annamalai.
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The entire Pondy Bazaar stretch was lit with colourful lights and decorated with festoon and BJP flags. Traditional Nagaswaram, Thavil, and Chanda Melam instruments were played by music troupes and artists staged classical dances, Mayilattam and drama. M. Lavanya, a first-time voter from Sowcarpet, said “I am so excited to see Mr. Modi for the first time. He has been taking India’s pride all across the world. I am sure he will win and become Prime Minister for the third time.”
Elaborate security arrangements were put in place by the Greater Chennai Police ahead of the arrival of the Prime Minister. Walkways on either side of Pondy Bazaar were barricaded and the traffic police prohibited movement of vehicles from Tuesday afternoon.
After wrapping up the roadshow, he reached the Raj Bhavan for the night stay. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister is scheduled to address public meetings at Vellore and Mettupalayam in Coimbatore seeking support for the NDA candidates.
