Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 2, 2022 held four rallies and a long roadshow in Ahmedabad in a last minute push to the party’s campaign ahead of the voting for the second phase on 93 assembly seats in Central and North Gujarat regions.
In the first phase polling on Thursday, around 63.31% turnout was registered on 89 assembly seats, almost 4% less than last time when the turnout in those seats was 66.79%.
Less turnout compared to last time in a triangular contest in around a dozen seats may throw surprise outcomes.
Campaigning for the second round of polling will end on December 3, 2022 evening while the voting will be held in December 5.
Meanwhile, on December 2, 2022, Mr. Modi accused the Congress of disowning Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and said it absorbed ‘slave mentality’ after working with the British, before Independence.
He was speaking at a campaign rally at Sojitra in central Gujarat where voting will take place in the second phase of the state Assembly elections on December 5.
“The Congress has a problem not only with Sardar Patel but also with the unity of India; because their politics is based on the policy of divide and rule while Patel believed in uniting everyone. Due to this stark difference, Congress never considered Sardar Patel as their own,” the Prime Minister said.
“The Congress people had worked with the British for several years (ahead of Independence). As a result, the party absorbed all the bad habits of the British, such as this policy of divide and rule and the slave mentality,” he added.
The opposition party’s leaders avoid visiting the Statue of Unity, Patel’s statue and memorial in Narmada district, he alleged.
“Just because the statue has been built by Modi, Patel became untouchable for you? I am sure that people of Anand district will punish Congress for insulting Sardar Patel,” the Prime Minister added.
In North Gujarat, he told the gathering that the Congress people would blame the EVM for the poll defeat that is waiting for the party on December 8 when the counting of votes will be held.
He also repeated all charges at the opposition party for “insulting the PM” and name calling him while exhorting people to teach lesson to those who “insult Modi and Gujarat.”
In Ahmedabad, before addressing a gathering, the Prime Minister led a roadshow on second day and offered prayers at temples along the route.
