Mugs to chowkidar T-shirts, Brand Modi goes mobile

Noida: Brand Modi is being peddled with gusto in Noida and neighbouring areas in election time.
The party office in Noida has set up a NaMo merchandise van which sells T-shirts, Modi jackets, keychains, coffee mugs, wristbands, notebooks and stickers with slogans of ‘NaMo Again’, ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’, ‘Nari Shakti’ and ‘Made in India’.

Party workers say the sale is helping raise funds for campaign as well as for cleaning the Ganga.

“A large number of people support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his initiatives like ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’. We have arranged a merchandise van at our Noida office in Sector 9. Party workers and supporters buy these stuff and campaign in rural and urban areas alike,” said Vinod Tyagi, BJP’s western UP in-charge.

The van sells T-shirts for Rs 199 and Rs 299, keychain for Rs 99, exam warrior book for Rs 99, a pair of NaMo coffee mugs for Rs 175.

Vinod Sharma, BJP’s Noida spokesperson, said since the merchandise van is mobile, it can be shifted to some other places easily. “This van can be taken to a place where we organise a rally and voters-connect programme. It has started connecting with people, especially youths in Gautam Budh Nagar,” he said.

Prime Minister’s NaMo App had initially introduced these customised merchandise ahead of the Lok Sabha election. The app also sells other products like fridge magnets and pens. Moreover, the party office also has a selfie frame with PM’s photo and a punchline, “Main Bhi Chowkidar”.

The ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ slogan actually became popular among BJP supporters and workers after the PM changed his Twitter handle from Narendra Modi to Chowkidar Narendra Modi last month in the wake of Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s repeated accusations of ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’.

NaMo merchandise, on the other hand, was launched in September 2018. Part of this money will go to the Namami Gange project, said a BJP functionary.