It was around 2 p.m. when Hibi Eden, the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate for the Ernakulam Lok Sabha seat, reached Naranath Sree Krishna Temple, Eloor, on the outskirts of the city. The sun was blazing, forcing devotees to take cover under the canopy of trees.
The faces of Congress leaders Joseph Antony, Lekha S. Menon and Abdul Razak, who had been waiting for him for three hours, lit up as he alighted from the vehicle. Mr. Eden waved at the crowd, posed for group photos and selfies, and quickly melted into the crowd. The party workers accompanied him to the hall where the annual temple feast was progressing.
“How’s the campaign going on,” Mr. Eden keenly asked a senior citizen who was partaking of the feast, and then added with a playful smile, “He’s a BJP worker.”
