3D Modi holds simultaneous rallies in 4 cities

Technical glitches mar the first-ever show as audio goes off at least thrice at venues in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot

In a first, Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched his hi-tech election campaign by addressing rallies in four cities simultaneously.

His speech was telecast on specially erected screens in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat with the help of 3D holographic technology and satellite link-ups while Modi spoke from a studio in Gandhinagar.

The CM claimed it was for the first time in the world that an election campaign was being launched using 3D technology and telecast in four places. "You are witnessing a unique and first-ever incident," he said.

At the Ahmedabad gathering, BJP MP and former cricketer Navjot Singh Siddhu, former minister and Modi's close aide Amit Shah and BJP national vice-president Purushottam Rupala were present along with other ministers and leaders.

Modi's image, projected on screens in four places, was clear, but there were some technical glitches.

To begin with, the event started an hour late. As the crowd became restive, Modi appeared on the screen, having a sip of water, looking straight.

He looked thinner and drummed on his fingers as the Vanthambhyu Gujarat number played before his speech. However, barely 20 minutes later, as Modi began to celebrate the advances of technology in "progressive Gujarat" and began telling people how distances did not matter as "he lived in their hearts and they in his", the audio went off.

In Ahmedabad, more than five dozen speakers hung over the stage blaring patriotic songs sung live by a band of musicians as people waited for Modi. All the 7,500-odd chairs were occupied by 6 pm. Around 7:20 pm, Modi "appeared" on the stage amid a loud applause. As he waved hands and walked to his left and right side smiling, a silence fell on the venue at Ankur crossroads in Naranpura, a BJP stronghold.

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