A man makes a kite with a sticker of Narendra Modi on it in Patna City on Friday. Picture by Sachin

If kite flying offers a preview to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections then Narendra Modi is definitely soaring high.

Markets in the city are flooded with kites sporting stickers of the who’s who of the political spectrum. Kite makers are cashing in on the popularity of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and youth icon Rahul Gandhi this Makar Sankranti. For once, the three political rivals are flying together on Patna’s skies.

Rajeev Ranjan of Patna City, who is in the business of kite making for the past 20 years, said: “This year, I am selling special kind of kites with stickers of Modi, Kejriwal and Rahul. The most popular among them is Modi. In the past two days, I sold around 3,000 kites with stickers of the Gujarat chief minister on them. I sold around 1,000 Kejriwal kites. However, Rahul kites are yet to pick pace as far as sales are concerned. I have sold only 200 Rahul kites. Because of the heavy demand for Modi kites, I will get another 200 before Makar Sankranti.”

Makar Sankranti falls on January 14.

On the trend that is catching up fast in Patna, Ranjan said: “Kites with Kejriwal’s face on them are also very popular. My employees are making kites with faces of the Aam Aadmi Party leader on them. You never know when people demand what. Kejriwal kites may go off the shelf at the last minute. But thanks to the popularity of Modi and Kejriwal, we are making some good money this Makar Sankranti.”

Pappu, another kite seller said the trend was mostly noticed among the politically aware people. “Those who are informed and are aware of the national political situation are picking up kites with Modi and Kejriwal’s faces. Children don’t have such preferences. They love colourful kites in whatever shape they get. I sell both plastic and paper kites and they come cheap at Rs 10-50,” said Pappu.

Ravi Shukla (32) who bought a Narendra Modi kite from Ranjan’s shop said: “I like Modi. So, I thought of buying kites with stickers of his.”

On what drives them to pick up kites with popular faces he said: “I always go for my favourite characters. Last year it was Salman Khan.”

Pravin (22) a student and a staunch Kejriwal supporter bought 10 kites with the Delhi chief minister’s face on them.

“I like Kejriwal for his positive attitude. I have bought 10 Kejriwal kites to distribute them among my family members. I want the Patna skies to be splashed with his face on Makar Sankranti.”