Rousing welcome to Modi in Bhubaneswar

Thousands line up entire stretch of his cavalcade ahead of his reaching the city

The new found surge in support for BJP in Odisha was in full display on the streets of Bhubaneswar today as large number of people thronged the main thoroughfares of the city to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi who arrived here this afternoon to attend the BJP's national executive meet.

Long before the special IAF aircraft 'Rajhansh' carrying Modi touched down at the Biju Patnaik airport at 3.30 PM, thousands of people had lined up the entire stretch of his cavalcade, from airport to Governor's house and then on to Janata Maidan, the venue of the meeting with total route length of 9 km, in the sweltering afternoon heat.

On his way to Rajbhavan, Modi stopped near the statue of Biju Patnaik, just outside the airport complex, to pay homage to some famous personalities of Odisha, whose photographs were installed on an elevated platform. He, however, consciously did not pay any homage at the statue of Biju Patnaik, who is the mascot of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the state.

As he emerged from the airport, the waiting crowd bustling behind the barricades on both sides of the road cheered him loudly to which Modi responded by waving of his hand. All through his journey from the airport to Rajbhavan, Modi leaned out of his vehicle standing on the footrest of his black bullet-proof SUV, to receive the greetings of the people.

After a brief stay at the Rajbhavan, where he was received by Governor S C Jamir, Modi proceeded towards the venue of the national executive meet. The scene was similar all along the route with people pouring out of the barricades at some places to have a glimpse of the prime minister and in the process giving a torrid time to the security personnel to control them.

At Jaydeve Vihar, just before reaching the meeting venue, Modi got down from his vehicle and took a walk almost into a sea of onlookers, leaving the security men in a jittery.

With party supporters and city dwellers occupying every conceivable space along the stretch from the airport to the venue for the BJP's meeting, a senior citizen commented. "It is an unprecedented sight. No prime minister in the past had received such tumultuous welcome in the city".

"Landed in Odisha to a memorable welcome. Gratitude to the people for the warmth and enthusiasm", Modi later tweeted

After emerging as the second political force after BJD in the just concluded three tier panchayat polls in the state and pushing Congress into a distant third position, BJP has shifted its focus to win the assembly elections in the state slated in 2019. To this effect, the ongoing national executive of the party in Bhubaneswar and the Modi's roadshow in the city will act as a big morale booster.

"We have seen how the people of Odisha responded in the panchayat elections to the development call given Narendra Modi. We are hopeful the BJP will emerge victorious in the upcoming assembly elections", said a party worker.

The capital city has turned into a fortress for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two day stay here.

"Happy to be in Bhubaneswar for the NEC. Last time I was in this beautiful city was as a little girl accompanying my father for the 1992 NEC", BJP leader Poonam Mahajan tweeted.

Around 350 people, including the Prime Minister, party chief Amit Shah, union ministers, chief ministers of 13 BJP-ruled states are attend the meeting.