The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Kerala): In a significant show of support for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidates in Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheaded a grand roadshow in Palakkad on Tuesday. This event underscores the emphasis the BJP is placing on Kerala for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, a state where the party has traditionally not achieved substantial electoral success.
Commencing at approximately 10:45 am from Kottamaidan Anchuvilakku, Modi’s procession, featuring an open-roof vehicle adorned with floral decorations, moved towards the town’s Head Post Office. The Prime Minister had flown in by helicopter from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, specifically for this event.
Flanked by BJP state president K Surendran and NDA candidates, C Krishnakumar (contesting from Palakkad) and Niveditha Subramanian (contesting from Ponnani), Modi was greeted by thousands of enthusiastic supporters. Despite the intense heat, crowds, comprising individuals of all ages and donning party hats, lined the route. They waved party flags, held placards of Modi, and chanted slogans of welcome and support as the cavalcade advanced.
In response to the affection shown by the crowd, Modi, donning a saffron-coloured Nehru cap symbolic of his party, reciprocated by showering flowers on the attendees several times during the procession. The roadshow, creating a festive atmosphere, stretched over approximately one kilometer and concluded within half an hour, after which Modi promptly returned to the helipad.
This roadshow in Palakkad followed closely on the heels of Modi’s participation in a public meeting in Pathanamthitta on March 15, aimed at rallying support for NDA candidates in the southern constituencies of Kerala. During the Pathanamthitta event, Modi expressed optimism about the BJP’s prospects in the state, declaring, “The Lotus is going to bloom in Kerala,” and criticized the current Left and the opposing Congress-led UDF governments for their alleged corruption and incompetence.
Notably, the BJP has witnessed an uptick in its vote share in Palakkad during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, with candidate Krishnakumar C securing 21.24% of the total votes. Modi’s visit to Palakkad marks his fifth to the state within three months, blending official engagements with party functions, demonstrating the strategic importance the BJP is placing on Kerala in its electoral strategy.