Ghatkopar wipes tears as hordes greet Modi

That doom had descended from the sky claiming 14 lives and injuring several others in a freak mishap at Ghatkopar on Monday would have been the farthest thought on the minds of the uninformed witnessing the election extravaganza on display in the same Mumbai suburb, 48 hours later.

- KALPESH MHAMUNKAR

For the ruling Mahayuti in the state, the show had to go on and so it did, putting up a show of its strength in full blast on Wednesday, with lakhs of people and party workers giving a rousing welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as his roadshow in support of BJP candidate Mihir Kotecha wended its way through the arterial roads of Ghatkopar.

Apart from local residents, many more poured in from other suburbs like Mulund, Bhandup, Powai and Vikhroli. Police had a tough time providing bandobast for the elaborate procession.

Modi was accompanied in an open vehicle by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and BJP candidates Mihir Kotecha and Ujwal Nikam.

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was conspicuous by his absence. The road show commenced at 7pm near Shreyas cinema on LBS Marg, Ghatkopar west, and made its way via Sarvodaya Hospital Junction, Crime Branch office, Sanghavi Square, Haveli Bridge, M G Road, Ramji Ashar High School and Parshwanath Square at Rajawadi in Ghatkopar east. Stretching out over 2.5km, the election extravaganza ended at 8.10pm.

Contrary to speculation, he did not visit Rajawadi Hospital nearby, where many of those injured in the billboard collapse on Monday are admitted. Metro services between Jagruti Nagar and Ghatkopar were suspended from 6pm onwards for security reasons, since the tracks pass over the Sarvodaya Hospital Junction.