BJP must sweep Guj polls, Modi tells voters
VERAVAL: Continuing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign for the second consecutive day on Sunday in his home state of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to help the ruling party sweep the upcoming assembly polls.
Addressing a rally in Veraval town of Gir Somnath district – his third of eight planned rallies -- after offering prayers at the famous Somnath Temple, the Prime Minister also appealed to the people to cast their ballots in large numbers on polling day in the state elections.
“Another thing I want from you is to make sure the BJP wins each and every booth here. Will you do it for me? This time, my focus is to win all the polling booths here. If you will help me in achieving this, these four BJP candidates will automatically reach the Assembly in Gandhinagar,” the PM said.
The voting in the BJP-ruled state will be held in two phases, on December 1 and 15. The votes will be counted on December 8.
“In this election, I want people to turn up in large numbers at their respective polling booths on the voting day and break all the previous records of voter turnout. I am not saying you should vote for the BJP only. Just ensure that each and every citizen takes part in this festival of democracy. This is my appeal to everyone,” Modi said in his address to the people and the BJP functionaries present in the rally.
Modi, who is on a three-day visit to the state, said that Gujarat has made progress over the years despite the fact that many people used to look down upon the state in the past for various
reasons, such as frequent droughts.
“Today, cargo from the entire north India reaches the world from our ports. These ports have become the doors to India’s prosperity,” he said.
The BJP government in Gujarat has also helped the fishermen community in increasing their income through various schemes, including the Sagarkhedu Yojana, he added.
In the 2017 Assembly polls, the Congress won all the four assembly segments in Gir Somnath district - Talala, Una, Kodinar and Somnath.
On Sunday, the PM was canvassing for four BJP candidates from Gir Somnath district in Gujarat.
Modi said though pre-poll predictions project a win for the BJP once again in Gujarat, he aims that chief minister Bhupendra Patel wins the maximum seats.
“I also come here to take your blessings and give you the account of my work. I also want to ensure that Bhupendra breaks the records of Narendra. We all need to work hard to take Gujarat ahead on the path of development. I am sure you will give your blessings to us,” he said.
On Saturday, the PM kicked off his party’s campaign with a rally in Valsad district, and appealed to people to be wary of those who defame Gujarat. Modi said the people of Gujarat have never hurt anybody and embraced whoever comes to the state.
“Be aware of the people who want to defame Gujarat and are speaking against us. They are trying to defame Gujarat and Gujaratis. They are also trying to defame our state in foreign countries,” the Prime Minister said. While this was his third rally since the Election Commission announced the poll schedule, the rallies over the weekend and on Monday represents the launch of a campaign blitz that the PM often undertakes ahead of crucial elections.
The Prime Minister is expected to participate in at least eight programmes crisscrossing the state from Saurashtra to Surat.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to hold rallies in Gujarat’s Saurashtra for two more days till November 22. More than 150,000 people are expected by the party to participate in these rallies.
PM Modi is also expected to have a closed-door meeting with the state leaders during his stay here to further boost the party in the western state.