'We are here to catch a glimpse of PM Modi'

PATNA: People from all ages thronged the city from different parts of the state on Sunday to attend the NDA’s Sankalp Rally at Gandhi Maidan which was addressed by PM Narendra Modi , CM Nitish Kumar, LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan and others.


Be it railway stations, parks or bus stands, NDA supporters could be seen everywhere marching towards Gandhi Maidan with party flags in their hands.

Patna Junction too looked like a mini rally ground with special trains carrying the rallyists arriving since morning. Slogans like ‘Narendra Modi is our next PM’ and ‘Nitish Kumar is the only Vikas Purush’ rent the air at the junction. The excitement was so high that people started reaching the city from early morning. One such NDA supporter was Sheikh Anwar-ul-Haque, a sexagenarian from Bettiah, who reached city at 4am sharp.

Some with lotus painted on their bodies or arrows on their heads were also seen heading towards the Gandhi Maidan. Patna’s Bhagya Narayan Purbe painted the photo of wing commander Abhinandan Vatrhman on his chest. “Abhinandan has made all of us very proud,” said Purbe, an autorickshaw driver. An ITI student from Dehri-on-Sone, Raju Kumar, walked all the way from veterinary college ground up to Gandhi Maidan with his friends to catch a glimpse of PM Modi. “We have come here to see Modi ji,” he said.

Just like PM Modi, the crowd also had CM Nitish’s supporters, especially women. Manju Devi, who had come all the way from Buxar to extend her support to the CM, said, “The CM’s decision to ban liquor has changed our lives. We are now leading a peaceful life,” she said.

Roadside vendors too had a good time selling tea, chips, chanachoor and packaged water few metres away from Gandhi Maidan. They, however, turned upset after it started raining. Pawan Kumar, who sold lemon tea for Rs 5 a cup, said he could have done better business had it not rained.

Bablu, who sells fruit juice at Patna Junction, said, “Though Patna Junction is always a happening place, today’s vibe is different. Look at the people and the way they are glued to LED screens. It seems they are going to exercise their franchise today itself.”

There were others who could be seen enjoying their brief visit to the city. Beena Devi from Darbhanga, who reached the city along with 60 other women from her locality in the wee hours of Sunday, said, “We visited Buddha Smriti Park in the morning and also did shopping before the beginning of the rally.”