Narendra Modi's roadshow at Vadodara in Gujarat
BJP's prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi took out a grand roadshow in Vadodara today before filing his nomination for the general election. A tea vendor will be one of his proposers, in an ode to Mr Modi's own tea-seller past.
In a trademark kurta and crimson waistcoat with his party's lotus symbol emblazoned, Mr Modi waved to huge crowds from an open jeep as he traveled through the city. Flower petals, flags and loud slogans accompanied the procession.
The roadshow, which started from Kirti Stambh, has been called the "Vijay Vishwas rally".
The BJP's Prime ministerial candidate will pass key landmarks of the city before reaching the district collectorate's office to file his nomination papers .
(Elections: full coverage)Thousands of police personnel have been deployed along the four-kilometre-route which his cavalcade will follow. Mr Modi is also contesting from Varanasi constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
Vadodara is considered a BJP stronghold with the party winning the seat by almost 1.5 lakh seats in 2008. Six of the seven assembly segments in the constituency are held by the BJP while the remaining seat is held by an independent, who is now in the BJP fold.
Party sources said that tea seller Kiran Mahida will be signing up as a proposer.
Mr Modi is up against Congress candidate Madhusudan Mistry from the constituency.
After filing his nomination, Mr Modi will leave for Maharashtra.