Modi admits need for change of image

Rann of Kutch, Gujarat: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has given himself a quiet makeover, perhaps to keep up with the changing image of the state as one of the most industrially developed in the country.

At the recent Rannotsav, a three-day cultural festival showcasing the folk culture of northern Gujarat and the Kutch region, Modi swapped his trademark khadi kurta and loose trousers for faded denims and a cowl neck polo pullover — a designer outfit in navy blue with denim patches across the chest, and draped a grey woollen scarf casually around his neck.

The footwear to match the attire was a pair of trendy leather slip-ons.

Modi's body language was also tailored to match his attire. As he tucked his hands into his pockets and walked away alone into the salt moors in a mood of introspection — with a crowd of television cameramen following him, a senior state official said: "It looks straight out of Bollywood."

"Images change," laughed the chief minister with a salute when told that he was looking smart. "After all, there are foreign dignitaries to talk to all the time. Gujarat is a forward-looking state."

Modi, who was recently seen on television wearing a cowboy hat, is also known for his trench coats — in shades of brown, mustard and grey.