Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow in Kerala’s Kochi has caused a stir as he walked a 2-km route surrounded by cheering supporters, in a departure from his usual open-top vehicle practice. The entire area was under a tight security net, with thousands of police personnel deployed to ensure the Prime Minister’s safety. PM Modi is dressed in traditional Kerala attire and is expected to meet a group of eight bishops from the state’s various Christian sects later in the evening. This move is considered a show of confidence in a state where his party, the BJP, is hoping to make huge inroads ahead of next year’s general election. Over the last few months, the BJP has aggressively focused on Kerala, announcing multiple infrastructure projects and courting the state’s Christian and Muslim communities. PM Modi will attend several programmes over the next two days, including laying the foundation for the country’s first Digital Science Park.
