The air was pregnant with expectancy when BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi came to address the election rally in Etawah — Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav’s native town. It is the same place where the SP Government wants to set up a lions Safari with lions from Gir forest in Gujarat. Modi, however, had often talked about the lions in his speeches and how difficult it would be for Akhilesh Yadav to tame a lion from Gujarat.
Modi roared in the same Etawah on Friday which left Mulayam and Akhilesh looking for answers in their native land.
People were enthusiastic about Modi’s rallies. All the crossings and the main roads were dotted with his hoardings that read, “Main aa raha hun” (I am coming). The response was so good that the traders closed their shops for few hours to attend his rally. A few hours ago the city had faced dusty storm and still people went to sneak a glance at Modi.
The way Modi spell a magical web around the audience was commendable. Though he reached the venue late, still everybody remained glued to their seats hearing the speeches of local leaders and the candidates who time and again emphasised that to vote for the BJP is voting for Modi. And whenever the leaders spoke about Modi, people reciprocated with chanting his name. Party’s candidates Subhrata Pathak (Kannauj), Ashok Dohre (Etawah) and Brig SS Chauhan (Mainpuri) were on the stage nervously looking at their watch and enquiring about Modi’s arrival.
When Modi arrived at the rally ground it reverberated with the NaMo chanting. People stood straight to welcome their hero. The response was so overwhelming as if Modi has returned after after becoming the Prime Minister. From every corner of the ground people chanted his name, and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate responded with folded hands. He waived towards the students gallery who responded with a slogan Ab ki baar Modi sarkar.
Modi knew that people have come to listen to him so he asked the announcer to cut short his introduction and took the mike himself. In his amiable style, he started speaking and within minutes he connected with the locals. He spoke about lions and also about Gir cows. He linked Drawaka with Yaduvansh and then the law and order. Whatever he spoke people lapped it up with chants.
He won their hearts not just with his oratory; his knowledge about the local issues was perfect too. He talked about the storm and importance of ‘Netaji’ (Mulayam Singh Yadav) in this area. And whatever he spoke people just liked it.