LS polls: Helicopters are as big a draw as star campaigners in Rajasthan

In a relief for the BJP leaders, the crowd of less than 1,000 swelled to 1,200 when Raje's helicopter landed two hours later

On a hot, sunny afternoon, as the crowd at a BJP rally in Samdari village — near the textile town of Balotra in Rajasthan’s Barmer district — listened to local party leaders, godmen and the party’s candidate Kailash Chaudhary repeating praises of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s various schemes for rural areas, including the Ujjwala Yojana for LPG connections and the rural electrification, it appeared increasingly disinterested.  

The star campaigner at the rally, held on April 25, was Rajasthan ex-CM Vasundhara Raje, whose helicopter was still a few hours away. The local leaders on stage were trying to keep the crowd