Thrissur, Kerala, 29 March (H.S.):
Prime Minister Narendra Modi swept through Thrissur on Sunday evening in a high-octane roadshow that transfixed thousands, turning the city’s bustling arteries into a riot of saffron flags and resounding cheers ahead of Kerala’s fiercely contested assembly elections.
The vibrant procession, stretching roughly 900 meters from near the district hospital through key thoroughfares like Swaraj Round, unfolded under balmy evening skies as supporters who had camped out for hours defied the heat to catch a glimpse of their leader perched atop an open vehicle, waving energetically to the swelling crowds.
Party slogans rent the air while mobile phones captured every wave and smile, amplifying the electric fervor across social feeds in real time.
Accompanying PM Modi were prominent NDA figures including Union minister Suresh Gopi and Padmaja Venugopal, signaling the coalition’s sharpened focus on this central Kerala stronghold following his earlier rally in Palakkad. He had landed at the Kuttanellur helipad to a hero’s welcome from top BJP and NDA brass, capping a marathon day of politicking designed to erode the long-standing LDF-UDF duopoly.
The spectacle underscored BJP’s aggressive southern incursion, with live footage revealing an unbroken sea of enthusiasts brandishing placards and garlands amid a three-cornered electoral showdown. No disruptions marred the event, which positioned the NDA as a buoyant challenger riding a tide of grassroots enthusiasm into the April polls.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
