Asserting the importance that the BJP-led NDA has given to Kerala in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a massive roadshow here on Tuesday to boost support for its candidates from the state, where the saffron party has historically had no significant electoral victories.

The PM’s cavalcade with Modi standing on an open roof vehicle heavily decorated with flowers commenced the roadshow at around 10.45 am from Kottamaidan Anchuvilakku and proceeded towards the Head Post Office in the town.

The PM arrived here in a helicopter from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.

On the open-roof vehicle, Modi was flanked by BJP state president K Surendran and NDA candidates C Krishnakumar, who is contesting from the Palakkad constituency and Niveditha Subramanian, who has been fielded in the Ponnani seat.

Braving the scorching sun, thousands of people, including BJP supporters with flowers, garlands, party flags, placards of Modi and wearing party hats, lined both sides of the around one km roadshow route.

As the roadshow proceeded along the route, shouts of ‘Modi’, ‘Bharat mata ki jai’, ‘Modiji swagatam’ and ‘Modi ki jai’ were heard from the people gathered on both sides of the road.

They also showered flowers on Modi, who was wearing a Nehru cap in the saffron colour of his party.

Reciprocating the welcome received from the crowd, the PM also showered flowers on the people on both sides of the road several times.