Gujarat Assembly Election 2017: Rahul Gandhi at Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad
Rahul Gandhi promised a "zabardast" verdict on the last day of campaigning for the Gujarat assembly election. At a press conference in Ahmedabad that stood in for a cancelled roadshow, Mr Gandhi wrapped up an intense three-month-long campaign with a point-by-point rebuttal of the BJP's many allegations against him including the rival party's attacks over his frequent visits to temples.
Rahul Gandhi's roadshow was planned through the old city while Prime Minister Modi's route was through the newer parts of Ahmedabad, across the river. But the police said there was a possibility of trouble because the routes "were in mutual conflict".
The battle for the crucial state, seen as a PM Modi vs Rahul Gandhi contest, saw the two leaders conduct aggressive campaigns and make sharp, often personal remarks against each other.
Here are the highlights of Rahul Gandhi's visit to Gujarat on last day campaigning:
Campaigning for Gujarat assembly election 2017 comes to an end. Rahul Gandhi has led his party's aggressive bid to win Gujarat after 22 years of BJP rule, attacking PM Modi and the BJP over mega economic policies notes ban and GST. People will vote for the second and the final phase of state polls on Thursday. Results are scheduled to be declared on December 18.
Dalits feel insecure in Gujarat, says Rahul GandhiCongress' President-elect Rahul Gandhi today hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over alleged atrocities on Dalits in Gujarat, insisting the community feels insecure in the state despite several laws for their protection.
Mr Gandhi wanted to know who will take responsibility for the Una incident where young Dalit men were flogged for skinning a dead cow.
"Neither land, nor employment, no health and no education, Gujarat's dalits received only insecurity.
"PM Modi is silent on Una's tragic incident, but who will take the responsibility for it. A number of laws were made in the name of dalits, but who will execute them earnestly," he said on Twitter.
Just Wait, Verdict Will Be 'Zabardast', Says Rahul GandhiRahul Gandhi has promised a "zabardast" verdict when votes are counted next Monday in the Gujarat assembly elections. At a press conference in Ahmedabad that stood in for a cancelled roadshow, Mr Gandhi wrapped up an intense three-month-long campaign with a point-by-point rebuttal of the BJP's many allegations against him including the rival party's attacks over his frequent visits to temples.
"Unacceptable", Says Rahul Gandhi On PM Modi's Comments On Manmohan SinghRahul Gandhi said today that his priority as Congress president will be to "change the nature of political discourse," accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of saying "many wrong things about me," and also reiterating that he will not retaliate in kind. He also said that PM Modi's comments against his predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh over a dinner meeting with Pakistani diplomats last week were "unacceptable".
Rupal Tadvi, daughter of a soldier who died in the line of duty, met Congress President-elect Rahul Gandhi.
There was high drama at Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani's election rally at Kevadia Colony in the Vadodara district earlier this month. Ms Tadvi broke the security cordon and made a dash towards the dais where the chief minister was speaking, only to be stopped mid-way and dragged away by policewomen. A video of the incident, showing the woman struggling to escape while being taken away by the police, went viral.
The woman had alleged that the government did not give a piece of land promised to her family after her father, Ashok Tadvi, who was with the BSF, was killed in action.
Gujarati dishes in Rahul Gandhi's lunchCongress President-elect Rahul Gandhi visited the popular Swati Snacks restaurant in Ahmedabad for lunch this afternoon after his press conference. His menu included
dal khichdi,
chhash,
khichu and
sukhdi.
At his press conference, the Congress leader took on those who raised eyebrows over his visits to temples in Gujarat, wondering if it was wrong to pray for the well-being of people of the state.
Earlier today, when Rahul Gandhi visited Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad he was seen enjoying
kirtan with other devotees. This is the last day for campaigning before Gujarat votes in the final phase of elections on Thursday.
Congress has kept its focus on Gujarat's issues of small and medium enterprises, farmers, unemployment. For the last 3 months our party has tried to give a vision to Gujarat, says Rahul Gandhi on last day of campaign in Gujarat.
I aim to improve political discourse in our country: Rahul Gandhi
My priority as the president of Congress is to strengthen the party. My aim is to improve the current political discourse in our country, says Rahul Gandhi.
PM Modi is our political opponent. He has said a lot of bad things about me, but I won't say anything objectionable about him, says Mr Gandhi.
PM Modi's seaplane ride a distraction, says Rahul Gandhi
If PM Modi wants to fly in a seaplane that is not wrong, but it is a distraction. The real question is what has been done for the people of Gujarat in the last 22 years, says Rahul Gandhi.
People of Gujarat has given me a lot of love during the last few months which I will never forget. Wherever I went, I was offered moongfali, dhokla, thepla and I was surprised with their hospitality. The people of Gujarat can approach me whenever they want to, says Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi on Mani Shankar Aiyar's "neech" remark: I have made it clear I will not tolerate such things, PM Modi is after all the Prime Minister, though what all PM Modi said about Manmohan Singh is also not acceptable.
People of Gujarat are very intelligent, they can see that PM Modi is not talking about corruption or farmers in his rallies. There is a massive undercurrent, I am actually little surprised, I had expected BJP to fight with more strength, says Mr Gandhi.
PM Modi said 2 crore youth will get jobs, but the reality is in front of us, says Rahul Gandhi in Ahmedabad.
Wherever I get opportunity I go to temples. I also went to Kedarnath, is that in Gujarat? asks Rahul Gandhi on people linking his temple visits to the state elections.
Whatever decision we will make about Gujarat, it will only be done after talking to the people of Gujarat, after listening to their voices. No decision will be taken unilaterally, says Congress President-elect Rahul Gandhi.
In last 22 years PM Modi and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani have initiated only one-sided development here, the one only for 5-10 people. Not everyone has been given their rights, says Congress President-elect Rahul Gandhi.
Is it wrong to go to a temple, asks Rahul Gandhi
Whenever I went to a temple I just prayed for a 'Sunehra Bhavishya' for the people of Gujarat, a better development here. Is it wrong to go to a temple?: Congress President-elect Rahul Gandhi in Ahmedabad
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stopped talking about corruption, says Rahul Gandhi in an address to media on the last of campaign in Gujarat.
Rahul Gandhi addresses press conference in Ahmedabad. This is the last day of campaigning in Gujarat before the final phase of state assembly elections on Thursday.
Ex-BJP Lawmaker Nana Patole Shares Stage With Rahul GandhiNana Patole, who recently resigned from Lok Sabha and the BJP, shared stage with Congress President-elect Rahul Gandhi on Monday at an election rally in Gandhinagar and fulminated against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming he "abused" senior MPs who had once gone to meet him.
"Once PM Modi called a meeting of MPs from different states at his residence before the winter session of Parliament. When some elderly MPs rose to ask him questions, he abused them and asked them to sit down. He also shouted at me when I asked him about a separate ministry for OBCs," he claimed.
Meanwhile, addressing a rally in northern Gujarat yesterday for the final phase of assembly elections, PM Modi targeted Congress' President-elect Rahul Gandhi, saying he was born with a "golden spoon" and has not seen poverty.
Rahul Gandhi was elevated as the party's vice president in January 2013 and has since then, operated as the party's number 2. Mrs Gandhi, the party's longest-serving chief, has been keeping unwell in recent years and had scaled back her public engagements, pushing to the fore Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi led fierce campaign for Congress in Gujarat Rahul Gandhi has led his party's aggressive bid to win Gujarat after 22 years of BJP rule, attacking PM Modi and the BJP over mega economic policies notes ban and GST. He has countered PM Modi's takedown by accusing the Prime Minister of focusing too much on him and the Congress, rather than talking about development.
Rahul Gandhi elected Congress President on MondayOn Monday, Rahul Gandhi was elected unopposed the President of Congress. On Saturday, two days before results for the bitterly-fought Gujarat elections are announced, Mr Gandhi will take over as Congress president from his mother Sonia Gandhi in a ceremony on the lawns of the party's 24 Akbar Road headquarters in Delhi.
For Congress President-elect Rahul Gandhi the day began with a visit to Jagannath Temple. He will be addressing a press conference at 1pm. Today is the last day of the high-voltage campaign in Gujarat.