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Politics today. Economics, tomorrow, maybe.
Has a possible dilution of ‘Brand Modi’ forced the Prime Minister to rope in his visiting Japanese counterpart for a roadshow in his home State of Gujarat, which goes to polls later this year?
On Wednesday, embraced a subtle transformation for the first time since 2001: Modi, accompanied by Japanese premier Shinzo Abe and his wife Akei, embarked on a grand roadshow in Ahmedabad.
It was, perhaps, the first-ever roadshow anywhere, in which the PMs of two countries rode in an open jeep as cultural heritage from 29 States of India was on display amid a collage of regional dance and music, traditionally seen on Republic Day.
For Abe, who changed into kurta-pyjama and Modi-jacket at the airport it may have been a novel experience. And they seemed to enjoy the long open-jeep ride on the recently-resurfaced roads of Ahmedabad. Akei, who too had changed into Indian attire, was seen clicking photographs through the 8-km-long route from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport to Gandhi Ashram, waving at the greeting crowds.
This was, perhaps, also the first time when Modi shared space with another top leader on his open vehicle in a poll-bound State.
The cavalcade stopped at the Gandhi Ashram, where they paid tributes to the Father of the Nation. Thereafter, they visited the famous carving artwork at Siddi Sayyed Mosque in the Old City area of Ahmedabad. They also took part in a traditional Gujarati dinner at the famous heritage hotel, Agashiye, opposite the mosque.
While the Abes will stay at Hotel Hyatt in Ahmedabad for the night, Modi will stay at the Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar.
On Thursday, Modi and Abe will sit down to talk business and economics when they participate in the 12th India-Japan Annual Summit at Mahatma Mandir. Prior to this, they will perform the ground-breaking and foundation-stone laying ceremony for the ambitious Ahmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train project at the Sabarmati railway station.
Earlier, the Abes were accorded a warm welcome on their arrival from Tokyo, bypassing New Delhi, on a two-day visit.
Modi, who arrived from New Delhi around 3.15 pm, waited at the airport for nearly 20 minutes to welcome his Japanese counterpart. Gujarat Governor OP Kohli, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy CM Nitin Patel were among those present on the occasion.
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