Narendra Modi files nomination from Vadodara

Modi said that Vadodara was his 'karmabhomi' (place of work) during his days as pracharak with RSS

Gujarat chief minister and BJP's prime  ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Wednesday filed nomination for 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Vadodara with a massive show of saffron strength as thousand lined up to have a glimpse of the persons who, according pre-poll surveys,  is touted to be the next prime minister of the country.

This will be the first time that Modi would be contesting Lok Sabha polls.

After filing his nomination, Modi said that Vadodara was his 'karmabhomi' (place of work) during his days as pracharak with the RSS. "I have lived and worked in Vadodara which is my 'karmabhoomi'. And now once again I have been given the opportunity to be people's representative. I am grateful to the people of Vadodara."

Expressing full faith in the people of the city Modi said,"I am sure that people of Vadodara will come out in huge numbers and vote for the BJP on April 30." Recalling his connect with the city Modi said that he had inherited the legacy of the Gaekwads, the rulers of erstwhile state of Baroda. "I was born in Vadgam which was part of the state of Baroda. And I studied in the school funded by the Gaekwads," he said. Modi also thanked BJP for nominating him from Vadodara seat.

Living upto his 'chaiwala' (tea vendor) image Modi had a local tea vendor Kiran Mahida from Vadodara city as one of his proposers as candidate of Lok Sabha seat. Also among his proposers was Shubhangi Raje Gaekwad from the royal family of erstwhile state of Baroda.

Before filing his nomination Modi put out a massive show of strength of the saffron party by holding a road show across the city. Passing through some of the most sensitive areas of the city, Modi's cavalcade was followed by thousand of people wearing saffron cap with writing "Modi for PM' and same colour scarf across the neck.

Making a public outing in an open jeep, Modi, dressed in saffron jacket and off-white kurta, waved at crowds with saffron-coloured flag of his party. He was showered with flowers as he passed through commercial areas of Vadodara which were echoing with sound of 'Abki Bar Modi Sarkar' (This time its Modi government), 'Modiji tum aage badho', 'Har Ghar Modi'. The 4-km long road show culminated at the officer of the Vadodara returning officer after over an hour.

On way to file his papers Modi was greeted by people of all caste and community who had set up stage along the route of the road show. As many as 108 Bhramins from the Gujarat Bhrama Samaj were chanting Sanskrit shlokas and blessing him. People of Jain community, Kachiya Patels and those from the minority community welcomed Modi. Men and women, young and old, all dressed in saffron cap and scarf walked along with Modi's cavalcade hailing him as the next PM of India.

Modi was accompanied by his closest aides state energy minister Saurabh Patel (also an MLA from Vadodara's Akota assembly seat), revenue minister Anandi Patel and finance minister Nitin Patel. Gujarat BJP president R C Faldu, party vice president Purshottam Rupala, Gujarat Incharge and party general secretary Om Mathur were also there to cheer for Modi.

Saurabh Patel expressed confidence that people will make Modi victorious  by a historical margin. "People of Vadodara will also make history by recording the highest turnout on April 30," Patel added.

For Vadodara seat Modi is pitted against Madhusudhan Mistry of the Congress and Sunil Kulkarni of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Modi is also contesting elections from the Varanasi seat where he will be facing Congress's Ajai Rai and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal.