Ahmedabad: As he kicks off the poll campaign in his home state today,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address between 32 and 35 rallies in Gujarat in the next two weeks, where assembly elections will be held on December 9 and 14.
The Prime Minister begins his
campaign today from Bhuj, a BJP stronghold that also has 33 per cent Muslim voters. Later in the day, he will address rallies in Jasdan town of Rajkot, Dhari in Amreli and Kamrej in Surat district. Amreli is dominated by the powerful Patel community, who the
BJP hopes will continue to back it despite their recent displeasure over not being included in castes that get benefits of affirmative action.
The polling for the two-phase elections in the state, having a total of 182 assembly seats, will take place on December 9 and 14 and the votes will be counted on December 18. While 89 seats of Saurashtra and South Gujarat region will go to polls in the first phase, the election in the remaining 93 constituencies in central and northern regions will be held in the second phase.
Here are the live updates of PM Narendra Modi's visit to Gujarat:
Nov 27, 2017 18:33 (IST)
In Uttar Pradesh the Congress was feeling so confident about victory. They begun to call Gujaratis donkeys. And now, they are coming here to Gujarat to seek support. Nobody can insult the people of Gujarat like this: PM Modi at Surat
Nov 27, 2017 17:45 (IST)
PM Modi to address rally in Kamrej, Surat.
Nov 27, 2017 16:14 (IST)
Our efforts against corruption have naturally troubled the Congress, says the prime minister in Dhari
Nov 27, 2017 15:35 (IST)
PM Narendra Modi made another emotional remark in Jasdan, Rajkot, after Bhuj and said that Gujarat was his motherland and he would dedicate his entire life to serve the state. Earlier in the day, he called himself "son of Gujarat" at the Bhuj rally.
Nov 27, 2017 15:07 (IST)
Accusing Congress of indulging into caste politics, PM Narendra Modi addressed locals in Jasdan, Rajkot, saying, "Pitting one caste against the other is Congress' tendency. Make sure that you do not let them destroy the composite culture of Gujarat."
Nov 27, 2017 14:46 (IST)
As he addressed the people in Rajkot, he reminded the locals about the achievements of the ruling BJP government. "Remember the Gujarat before BJP came to power? To travel to Ahmedabad also people had to ask is it safe. Law and order situation in the state was very poor. All this changed after BJP came to power," PM Modi said.
Nov 27, 2017 14:18 (IST)
After attacking Congress in Kutch's Bhuj, PM Narendra Modi reached Jasdan, Rajkot, and lashed out at the Aam Admi Party. "A new party came up in Delhi, whose style is to keep abusing and running away. I thought the Congress, being an older party would not indulge in such politics but they have also taken this short cut in the past two months and only hurled abuses and lies," he said.
Nov 27, 2017 13:58 (IST)
The ruling BJP has been in power in Gujarat for over two decades. However, Congress is trying to leverage the discontent in the Patidar community to contest elections against BJP. The grand old party recently sealed a deal with Hardik Patel-led Patidar community, which is seeking reservation in government jobs and education.
Nov 27, 2017 13:56 (IST)
While PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to address several political rallies in Gujarat, the BJP today released its sixth and final list for the upcoming assembly elections in the state. The party has dropped former Chief Minister Anandiben Patel from the list of 34 candidates. However, BJP has given tickets to 12 sitting MLAs.