In Tharoor stronghold, Rajeev Chandrasekhar mixes change pitch with Modi theme to woo middle class

Hearing the distant announcement about the impending arrival of Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a group of BJP workers at Kuravankonam junction in Thiruvananthapuram gets ready, holding saffron shawls. As his convoy halts, Chandrasekhar bends his head from the top of his vehicle. The BJP workers and several locals wrap shawls around the Union minister, one after another. There is also a brief jostle among them for selfies with him.

Before his roadshow rolls to the next reception, Chandrasekhar, the BJP’s candidate from the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat, addresses the gathering: “Our election will be held on April 26. In this poll, we want to make history, bring in change and move ahead. On June 4, when our PM Modi ji becomes PM for the third term, Thiruvananthapuram should be part of (Modi’s target of) 400-plus seats. I want you to make me an MP and minister. We must ensure that on April 26.”

During his whistle-stop roadshow with nearly two dozen stopovers, Chandrasekhar keeps driving home his message before the crowds that the stage was set for the Modi government 3.0 and that he would be a minister in it.

Kicking off the day’s campaign at Kannammoola, senior BJP leader P K Krishnadas said, “If we ensure Chandrasekhar’s victory, Modi ji would certainly make him a member of his Cabinet. If (Congress candidate) Shashi Tharoor or (CPI candidate) Pannian Ravindran is elected, they would hold sit-ins in Delhi and will never bring any development to Thiruvananthapuram. We want Chandrasekhar to bring in change in this constituency.”

Although the roadshow was running behind the schedule, people waited for Chandrasekhar for long hours despite the current festivals at local temples. At some receptions, the BJP candidate did not even speak.