PM Modi strikes emotional chord with people ahead of Himachal polls

‘Home that your feet may leave but not our heart’ –a famous adage certainly applies to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, not alone in Gujarat but Himachal Pradesh too—the two poll bound states.

With a clear aim to return to power Modi has quite clearly invoked his local connection – ‘Himachal ka Beta’ card while launching Rs 3700 cr worth development projects and created a history of sorts by participating in historic Kullu Dussehra, dating back to 16th century .

Modi had always described Himachal Pradesh as his second home as he links his emotional connect with the state dating back to mid-1998s when he worked as party general secretary and travelled extensively in most corners of the state—most people and remote places he knows by names in his memory.

His 55-minute presence at Kullu’s ‘Dev-Sadan’ where he not only watched the confluence of religious fervor, culture, ancient traditions and politics, Prime Minister has earned the hearts of thousands.

Minutes before landing at Bhuntar airport Modi shared a video from his helicopter to express his excitement to join Kullu Dussehra after several years.

“ There is a great lesson in Himachal’s Devniti for our politics as well. How in Devniti, with everyone’s efforts, connecting everyone, the work is done for the betterment of the village-society, that is also a big inspiration for the creation of a developed India ” he wrote on twitter.

Political experts say that before the assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally at Bilaspur, inauguration of Rs 1470 cr environmental friendly AIIMS ,and his decision to be part of Dussehra has come as huge booster dose for Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and BJP national President J P Nadda –who hails from Bilaspur.

Prime Minister broke all protocols to mix-up with locals –who had converged at Dussehra in hundreds and walked upto Lord Raghunath ji’s sacred rath (Chariot) to pay his obeisance he ‘Chief kardaar’ of lord Raghunath  Maheshwar Singh introduced him to the presiding deity, also bless him.

Standing fold-handed for 11 minutes as lord Raghunath’s rath yatra started to mark the bringing of week-long Dussehra, Modi did not even blink a second to show his respect and love.

Earlier at Bilaspur, he attributed Himachal Pradesh’s development and multi-crore projects, marking expansion of health infrastructure, education, four-lane projects and industrial development to “double -engine”.

“Being son of the soil – Himachal ka beta ,I have to repay my debt to this land. But, how I have been able to do all this for Himachal Pradesh, it’s all due to your power of vote. You voted for me to lead the country ,and also formed the government in Himachal Pradesh. I am repaying debt to my maa (dev Dhoomi). Yahan ki roti khayee hai, yeh karz sood sahit vapis karunga ” he said at Bilaspur.

Prime Minister Modi told from the stage of Bilaspur how he used to roam the streets of this city with former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and BJP National President J P Nadda, its message was not only in Bilaspur.

Modi was in-charge of Himachal Pradesh from 1995 to 2000.He was instrumental in forming Dhumal -led BJP coalition government with late Pt Sukh Ram’s party Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) despite BJP short of majority in the 68-member House in 1998.

“As Modi has virtually sounded the election bugle in Himachal Pradesh, his narrative is expected to be around development –benefits of double engine governments,  his local connections the BJP will certainly build -up the campaign for the forthcoming polls on these lines” says Ganesh Dutta, a journalist and editor of “Monal Times” .

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also an expert in connecting directly with the people and this strength becomes stronger when he has worked in the same state as in-charge for many years. He enjoys an emotional bond with people—who also trusts his leadership and concerns for Himachal. Till now, AIIMS for us meant Delhi but now its’ Bilaspur. Only Modi ji have felt the pain of the hills, it’s tough life and  simplicity,” Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur asserts.

Also Read: PM Modi sounds bugle for BJP’s high-voltage poll campaign in Himachal, opens Rs 1 ,470 crore AIIMS