Two new tempo travellers have arrived at the Koya and Sons garage on Dr Radhakrishnan Road at Coimbatore’s Sivananda Colony. Over two weeks, they will be fitted with dish antennas and TV sets, water tanks, toilets, plush seats and airconditioning.These are the vehicles chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam will use as they crisscross the state, seeking votes for the AIADMK-led alliance in the Lok Sabha polls.Koya and Sons are pioneers in modifying vehicles for use during campaigning when the leaders eat, bathe and sleep in them. Typically, the suspension has to be strengthened to ease the ride for the leaders as they traverse thousands of kilometres, often on rough roads. Deep armchairs and beds help the leaders catnap between roadshows.Vehicles for the chief minister and his deputy will have hydraulic platforms, which can be raised for them to address impromptu meetings. There will be reinforced steps all around the vehicles for the security detail to cling on to while the vehicles move through crowds.Koya and Sons garage managing director P V Mohamed Riaz told TOI that the firm had been in this business for more than 50 years and among its clients had been former chief ministers M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa. MDMK boss Vaiko and VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan too only use campaign vehicles modified at this garage.“The modifications cost Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh depending on what needs to be done. For some star campaigners, we fix small dish antennas so that they can watch the news channels while on the move,” said Mohamed Riaz.At least in this matter, DMK leader MK Stalin appears to have stolen a march over his AIADMK rivals – his campaign vehicle has already had small alterations done at Koya and Sons.

Stay updated with all the Coimbatore Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.