Modi magic across Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat

Narendra Modi's charisma seems to be gripping UP, but the swing in favour of BJP is also because of high prices and RG's perceived lack of vision

At the Muzaffarnagar station, waiting for the Dehradun Express, Salim (name changed) says, "They did nothing to avert the riots," blaming the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh. At the Muzaffarnagar station, the feeling was that those hit by the communal riots in the state were now preparing to move ahead with their lives.

About 60 km from Meerut, Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s prime ministerial candidate, was about to address a huge gathering the following day. About 350 buses and 1,500 cars were being readied to ferry about 50,000 people from the district to listen to Modi, said a shopkeeper at the Meerut station.

Slowly, Modi magic is gripping the state, says Vinod Yadav, a student. He hopes the BJP leader would oust the state's Samajwadi Party government, which, Yadav says, had led to its downfall.

However, not everyone is pleased with Modi. "One thing is certain: No one will vote for Mulayam this time...However, voting for Modi is of no use, too," says Abdul.

Akram, who boarded the train in Haridwar in Uttarakhand, says an early announcement of Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate would have benefited the Congress. "It's too late for them now…the BJP were wise enough to declare Modi its candidate. The youth is with him."

Rajasthan
While a few here were impressed by the way Modi rose from his humble origins, others were impressed by his development model. "The Congress distributes doles; (Arvind) Kejriwal fights to provide subsidies on water and electricity. But Modiji says he will generate jobs. Industry needs a solution," said Himesh Shukla, a businessman travelling to Sawai Madhopur.

A station master at Dara says it isn't Modi but mehengai (inflation) that see the BJP elected at the Centre.

Many weren't moved by Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's development model, saying they felt he lacked leadership skills.

A passenger said Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal and his team had managed to make a mark in a few urban pockets in the state. In Kota, the party was campaigning widely, he added. However, a large group of villagers aboard the train wasn't even aware of the AAP.

Prakash, who runs a kirana shop at Kota, says he is in favour of the AAP's stance of opposing foreign direct investment in the multi-brand retail segment.

Madhya Pradesh
As the train made its way through Madhya Pradesh, inflation, corruption and unemployment seemed to be the key issues. For Ram Singh, a farmer travelling to Meghanagar, only one person was capable of checking these evils -"our Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan".

At the busy Nagda junction, moved by Chouhan's third consecutive victory in the state Assembly polls, people said it wasn't Modi, but the "charismatic" Chouhan who would garner votes for the BJP from the state. A group awaiting a train at the Ratlam station agreed.

Gujarat
As the train enters Gujarat, young Mahesh, who was travelling to Mumbai for a national-level volleyball championship, exuded excitement. "Gujarat aa gaya! Modi ki sarkar hai yaha (we've reached Gujarat, where Modi's government rules)!"

Anish is happy his native town, Himmatnagar, 80 km from state capital Ahmedabad, is easily connected to the airport. This wasn't the case five years ago, he says.

Though many passengers felt Kejriwal had a clean image, they said recent controversies had overshadowed his party's success.

The train halts at Godhra, where communal clashes had broken out in 2002. When asked about his opinion about Modi, even a critical tea vendor at the station said he would win, "Is baar Modi jeetega (this time, Modi will win)."

At the Vadodara station, a group of porters said they wanted no one but Modi as their leader.

It seems it will be difficult for Rahul Gandhi or Kejriwal to make a mark on Modi's home turf.