As the Model Code of Conduct came into force with the announcement of Lok Sabha elections on Wednesday, Aam Admi Party Convener Arvind Kejriwal, who kicked off his Gujarat tour, was detained briefly by the police.

But he managed to create a buzz in the saffron state ruled by the BJP since 1995.

Kejriwal’s assistant Vaibhav told Business Line that police detained the AAP leader for about half-an-hour at Radhanpur for allegedly “not taking prior permission” to hold a public meeting and that the party leader was moving in a cavalcade, violating the code of conduct. “We told the police we are simply meeting the people, have no flags or banners on our vehicles.”

Later, the police allowed them to leave and Gujarat AAP convener Sukhdev Patel directed party workers to return to Ahmedabad along with their vehicles.

Earlier, the former Delhi Chief Minister, who arrived at the Ahmedabad airport for the first time in Gujarat this morning, was accorded a rousing reception by hundreds of enthusiastic AAP workers showering floral petals. The engineer-turned-politician, who adopted a new canvassing strategy by just meeting small groups of people enroute, patiently listened to their problems and took notes which he is expected to speak about on the last day of campaigning at a meeting in Ahmedabad on March 8.

In a cavalcade, he left for Bahucharaji in Mehsana district where Maruti Suzuki has acquired land for its manufacturing plant. In the nearby Eswada village, he sat under a tree and interacted with the people. Later, he met officials at a community health centre in Sami, Patan district.

However, when he was meeting a group of people at Gayatri Shaktipeeth in Radhanpur, he was detained briefly.

Kejriwal’s maiden tour of Gujarat was marred by chaos and confusion, despite the spontaneous response he got in Ahmedabad. At a couple of places, some people also waved black flags, protesting against his “stand” on the Narmada water supply scheme.

He is scheduled to visit Bhuj and Mundra in Kutch tomorrow and south Gujarat the day after.

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