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PM now 'chowkidar', no more 'chaiwala': Mayawati's dig at Modi

PM Modi added prefix 'Chowkidar (watchman)' to his Twitter profile as part of the BJP's 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign on social media.

New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati on Tuesday launched a new attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying the latter is no more 'Chaiwala' after 'Chowkidar' prefix added with his name on Twitter.

"After BJP launch 'Mai Bhi Chowkidar' campaign, PM Modi & others added the prefix 'Chowkidar' to their Twitter handles. So now Narendra Modi is Chowkidar & no more a 'Chaiwala' which he was at the time of last LS election. What a change India is witnessing under BJP rule. Bravo!," Mayawati tweeted.

Since its launch on Saturday, #MainBhiChowkidar has featured in nearly two million tweets.

After PM Modi introduced it in his tweet, the hashtag trended worldwide and stayed in India trends for two days.

In 2014 national election, PM Modi’s campaign was greatly powered by his account of a “chaiwala” or tea-selling stint in his teens. The BJP came to power with a huge mandate, wiping out the Congress after two terms.

Over the year, the Prime Minister has pitched himself as a chowkidar (guard) fighting corruption. However, Rahul Gandhi has used the same term to target Modi over the Rafale deal, saying “chowkidar chor hai”.

In an attempt to turn that around, the BJP launched its “chowkidar” campaign.

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