Koderma: It is neither the 2014 nor 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, when people already voted in the name of Narendra Modi. But ten years down the line, Prime Minister Modi again sought a vote in his name instead of that of his MP and minister, Annapurna Devi in this case.
One of the most intense battles of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand is on in Koderma. Tuesday saw a face-off between PM Modi and JMM leader Kalpana Soren. Hemant Soren’s wife pulled almost the same number of listeners as the PM’s rally witnessed, about a fifty kilometres away from Kalpana.
In his 30-minute speech, PM Modi used every word that exists in his trademark style: ghuspetia (infiltrator), Jihadi mentality, opposition’s appeasement and dynastic politics, corruption, I sold tea, tackling naxalism, and construction of the Ram Mandir.
The half-hour-long speech gave some space to NDA government’s achievements in the last decade, but there were only a few to name —providing free treatment up to 5 lakhs, opening AIMS in Deoghar, pucca houses to four crore people, and free rations to 80 crore people.
However, when it came to talking about his minister and MP from Koderma, Annapurna Devi, he chose to seek votes in his name: “For Kashi, I am not a Prime Minister, but an MP. And for the people of Koderma too, I will be your MP first. I want to tell you that you will vote for me for both PM and MP,” Modi stated.
Whereas, around 50 kilometres away, JMM leader and its star campaigner Kalpana Soren held a rally for INDIA candidate Vinod Singh and reminded the crowd that when Vinod Singh enters Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha, people think, which issue he will raise today. “He raises your voice strongly, stands with you, send him to the parliament.”
Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kalpana Soren arrived late to their respective rallies. Modi mentioned that today was his nomination, so he got late in Varanasi, while Kalpana said that in a week, she gets only one day to meet her jailed husband and former chief minister, Hemant Soren, so she got late.
Crowds were impressive in both the rallies but the significant turnout in INDIA candidate Vinod Singh’s rally sent a clear message to the NDA camp that there is a wave for Vinod Singh.
