BJP supporters burst into road shows

Leaders join the crowd to shake a leg and cheer the party on

From lungi dance to Gangnam style , the weekend set in early in front of the BJP office here on Friday. As the first results broke out, people gathered in large numbers — to such an extent that the traffic from Navabharat circle to PVS circle was blocked through the morning and early afternoon.

Powder colours were sprinkled, firecrackers burst, and jubilant workers danced to party tunes. Among those seen shaking a leg with the frenzy of victory were former State minister J. Krishna Palemar, MLC Ganesh Karnik and BJP district president Pratap Simha Nayak.

The flavour of the party was BJP leader M. Narendra Modi, whose images dominated, even amidst the sea of saffron flags. There were men wearing

Modi masks, or T-shirts with ‘one nation, one leader’ and caps of Namo Brigade and other affiliated organisations.

A giant screen at the basement of the office played the results through television channels: each victory nationally or in the State was greeted with cheers.

Though Suresh, an autorickshaw driver, could not move his autorickshaw from the stand in front of the office – and would lose a day’s wage – he said he was happy that the vote was for a stable government.

Meanwhile, even though there was a ban on road shows, teams of BJP workers were seen (and heard) travelling through the city — with large flags on bikes — shouting out Modi’s name.

Congress office quiet Nothing could be more in contrast at the Congress office at Hampankatta circle with no one but a worker. “Not one leader has come into the office today. In fact, not one worker has come here,” said there worker.

In front of the Town Hall, where the results were being screened, a person was heard consoling a congress worker on the phone: “Why fret? Now we’ll have five years of gammat (merry-making) while the BJP will have the tension of people’s expectations.”