By Rajeev Khanna, IANS
Ahmedabad : Love him or hate him, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has hogged the limelight for the last five years.
For his followers, he symbolises everything that they would want to be. Hence, it does not come as a surprise if along with sportswear, party wear and the like, shops are now stacking ‘Modi wear’ – comprising the half-sleeve khadi kurtas that have become a rage in the state since Modi began wearing them in public.
Shopkeepers across the state hope to make a quick buck during the election campaign. But they expect the demand to continue even after the Dec 11 and Dec 16 ballot.
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Music to attract voters
Latino music, that too figuring Shakira, may be unheard of in the villages of Gujarat, but it is being put to use in the election campaign.
The Congress party is making use of Gujarati versions of Shakira’s songs to woo voters.
A ‘political’ version of one of Shakira’s hit numbers, sung by a local artiste, is being used to amuse crowds at public meetings. The song, titled “Panjo”, represents the party’s electoral symbol of an open palm.
Not to be left behind, the Bharatiya Janata Party is making use of one of the most popular Gujarati folk songs, “Sanedo”, with political lyrics inserted into it.
What remains to be seen is the kind of impact the music will have on voters, and which party will face the music.
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Police fret about candidates not depositing arms
Police in Gujarat are in a quandary. What is bothering them is the non-deposit of licensed arms along with permits by the candidates till the electoral process is complete. The Election Commission directives clearly state that arms need to be temporarily surrendered.
Police are trying to figure out what complaint can be lodged against the offenders. However, what the punishment would be for an offender is unclear.