JOIN USFor P C Mohan, BJP candidate for the Bangalore Central parliamentary constituency, electioneering is all about chanting the Narendra Modi mantra.
“Vote for Modi,” “Modi for PM,” “Nimma vote Modige”... These are some of the catchwords of Mohan who is trying to tap the so-called Modi factor for his re-election.
“Even kids know about Modi. They are crazy about him,” the MP whispers in the ears of his close aides, as a group of BJP workers burst crackers and raise slogans on BJP prime ministerial candidate Modi to mark the beginning of the campaign on Dr T M C Royan Road near K R Market on Thursday.
Mohan took out a padayatra in the narrow lanes of Anandpura, K R Market, Cottonpet and Ransingpet, which are part of the Bangalore Central constituency.
The constituency has a large number of slums and economically weaker section colonies, which hold the key to the election.
Amidst the din of drumbeating and slogan-raising by his supporters, Mohan makes it a point that his prospective voters whom he meets hear at least one word from his mouth: Modi.
And his supporters thrust a handout on the achievements of the Modi government in Gujarat in everybody’s hands. The handout also traces Modi’s political growth over the years.
Mohan tries to strike a chord with slum residents by barging into their houses unexpectedly during the campaign. He greets every member of the family and sometime requests for a glass of water.
He does it at least in one house in every lane. As he walks briskly along the lanes in slums, he never misses a chance to chat with youth. He listens to their problems and ensures that they pledge to support him.
However, the BJP candidate appears to avoid residents, especially women, who wants to complain about civic problems. When a group of women at Anandpura slum tried to air their grievances, Mohan just walked past pretending to be unaware of their presence. At the neighbouring Bhakshi Garden slum, another group of women asked him to provide them proper houses. But the MP replied saying that the local MLA should solve their problem.
A businessman himself, Mohan ensures that he interacts with the business community in the ‘pete’ areas. He stops at every small shop and greets the traders.
‘First round over’
In some places, the traders offer him snacks and water to drink. He also offered pooje at about half dozen temples during his two and half hours of campaign. In an interaction with this newspaper, he said he had already completed his first round of campaigning across the constituency.
National issues, especially misgovernment by the Congress at the Centre, are dominating in the elections. Irrespective of communities, people will vote for the BJP and the Modi factor will help him easily sail through in the election, he added.
Strange, that being a sitting MP, he is not showcasing his contributions to the constituency.