Modi Rockets, Modi Sparklers: What Patna Can't Get Enough Of

Patna: Modi rocket, Modi chakri, Modi bomb, Modi phuljhari - firecrackers with photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the packaging are hot-sellers in Patna ahead of Diwali. Firecrackers named after the state's two other leading politicians of the state - Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar - are also on sale, but they're not as popular, said shopkeepers.

"Modi's name is not only dominating politics, it has become the top-selling brand for firecrackers," said Ramesh Kumar, a shopkeeper at the wholesale market in old Patna.

"All items named after Modi are selling briskly. This time, demand for firecrackers named after Lalu and Nitish are lagging behind," said Bhola Singh, another shopkeeper. But there's this market force to consider too - "BJP's leaders, workers and Modi supporters are buying these in large numbers," he said.

Shopkeepers said "Modi bullets" and "Modi sparklers" are doing great business.

"It is true that crackers named after politicians have been selling in Bihar for years during Diwali, but this time the demand is high thanks to the emergence of Modi as a strong leader and strong Prime Minister," said Jawed Alam, another shopkeeper.

BJP leaders say that the popularity index of the PM in the fireworks market should be seen as a portent of the state election next year in Bihar. "We are confident that Modi is more popular than Lalu and Nitish - this is reflected in markets also," BJP spokesperson Vinod Narayan Jha said.

Bihar is currently governed by Nitish Kumar's party, the Janata Dal (United). A few months ahead of the national election, it ended a nearly two-decade-long alliance with the BJP after the party chose Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate. The BJP swept the national election in Bihar, and Mr Kumar resigned as Chief Minister, selecting another leader from his party, Jitan Ram Manjhi to replace him.