News Analysis India

Tag: Gujarat Elections

  • Gujarat battle on social media: Congress focuses more onYatra; AAP leads with max posts on Sunday

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: With less than one week left for the high octane poll battle in Gujarat to end, the ruling BJP and new player AAP have intensified their online campaigning to reach out to the voters active on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

    At the same time, the Congress’ main social media handles have focused more on promoting Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ than the party’s campaigning for the two-phase assembly elections on December 1 and 5.

    The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8.

    An analysis of Facebook accounts and Twitter handles last week (Nov 21-27) of the three parties showed that Congress’ handles were more attentive to Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, as 75 per cent of the total posts were on the yatra.

    Less than 20 per cent of the posts on its Facebook page and the Twitter handle were on the party’s campaigning in Gujarat elections.

    On the other hand, about 40 per cent of the posts from the Bhartiya Janata Party’s main Facebook page and Twitter handle were related to Gujarat polls during the same duration.

    ALSO READ | Last-minute push: Parties slog it out, trade charges ahead of Phase 1 Gujarat Assembly elections

    The flow of assembly election-related posts was almost the same during the last week, except on Friday when the count of the social posts on the Gujarat polls was the lowest for the BJP and the other two parties.

    However, the Aam Aadmi Party’s social media posts from its main handles were ahead of both the BJP and Congress, as every second post from its main handles was related to the Gujarat elections.

    On Sunday, more than 95 per cent of content shared from the AAP’s main Facebook and Twitter accounts was on the party’s activities in Gujarat.

    Only 15 per cent of the tweets posted by Congress’ official Twitter handle during Nov 21-27 were on the Gujarat polls. Out of 280 tweets posted during these seven days, only 42 were related to the party’s campaigns and party leaders’ rallies in Gujarat.

    Congress’s main Twitter handle posted 14 out of 35 tweets on the Gujarat elections on Monday (Nov 21).

    Similarly, the count was 5 out of 23 tweets on Tuesday, 3 out of 42 tweets on Wednesday, 4 out of 47 tweets on Thursday, 1 out of 41 tweets on Friday, three on Saturday, and 12 out of 45 tweets on Sunday (Nov 27).

    Similarly, 22 per cent of the Facebook posts shared by the party’s official Facebook page were related to the state elections in Gujarat.

    Of 242 Facebook posts during the same period, 53 were on Gujarat elections.

    On the other hand, 75 per cent of posts from the main handles (198 tweets and 194 Facebook posts) were on the events related to Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra from Monday (Nov 21) to Sunday (Nov 27) last week.

    The tweet count was the highest (14) on Monday and the lowest on Friday.

    Congress party’s Twitter handle has 9 million followers, and its Facebook page has 6.3 million followers.

    BJP The BJP maintained the flow of tweets and Facebook posts from its main handles on the party’s public rallies in Gujarat.

    More than 40 per cent of its tweets and above 35 per cent of its Facebook posts shared between November 21 and November 27 were related to the party’s campaigning in Gujarat.

    BJP’s main Twitter handle posted 23 out of 32 tweets on the Gujarat elections on Monday, 38 out of 63 tweets on Tuesday, 20 out of 35 tweets on Wednesday, 13 out of 46 tweets on Thursday, 4 out of 43 tweets on Friday, 15 out of 40 tweets on Saturday, and 14 out of 51 tweets on Sunday.

    ALSO READ | Gujarat hunt for Opposition: AAP fills Congress vacuum in BJP citadel

    Similarly, 37 per cent of the Facebook posts shared by the party’s official Facebook page were on Gujarat polls.

    Out of 169 Facebook posts during the same period, 63 were on the Gujarat elections.

    BJP’s Twitter handle has 19.5 million followers, and its Facebook page has 16 million followers.

    AAP The AAP, which has made an aggressive entry in Gujarat, promoted the party’s campaigning and its chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s rallies from its main Twitter handle and Facebook page.

    AAP’s main social media handles shared 50 per cent of its tweets and 52 per cent of its Facebook posts on the Gujarat elections in the same duration.

    The party’s main Twitter handle posted 131 out of 260 tweets and 81 out of 156 Facebook posts on its leaders’ public rallies in Gujarat.

    The main Twitter handle posted 25 out of 33 tweets on Monday on Gujarat polls, 31 out of 40 tweets on Tuesday, 11 out of 30 tweets on Wednesday, 13 out of 38 tweets on Thursday, 6 out of 50 tweets on Friday, 13 out of 36 tweets on Saturday, and 32 out of 33 tweets on Sunday.

    Similarly, 81 out of 156 Facebook posts, with 93 per cent of its posts on Sunday, were related to the state elections in Gujarat.

    On the same day, its Twitter handle posted 32 out of 33 tweets on Gujarat only.

    The AAP’s Twitter handle has 6.4 million followers, and its Facebook page has 5.5 million followers.

    NEW DELHI: With less than one week left for the high octane poll battle in Gujarat to end, the ruling BJP and new player AAP have intensified their online campaigning to reach out to the voters active on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

    At the same time, the Congress’ main social media handles have focused more on promoting Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ than the party’s campaigning for the two-phase assembly elections on December 1 and 5.

    The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8.

    An analysis of Facebook accounts and Twitter handles last week (Nov 21-27) of the three parties showed that Congress’ handles were more attentive to Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, as 75 per cent of the total posts were on the yatra.

    Less than 20 per cent of the posts on its Facebook page and the Twitter handle were on the party’s campaigning in Gujarat elections.

    On the other hand, about 40 per cent of the posts from the Bhartiya Janata Party’s main Facebook page and Twitter handle were related to Gujarat polls during the same duration.

    ALSO READ | Last-minute push: Parties slog it out, trade charges ahead of Phase 1 Gujarat Assembly elections

    The flow of assembly election-related posts was almost the same during the last week, except on Friday when the count of the social posts on the Gujarat polls was the lowest for the BJP and the other two parties.

    However, the Aam Aadmi Party’s social media posts from its main handles were ahead of both the BJP and Congress, as every second post from its main handles was related to the Gujarat elections.

    On Sunday, more than 95 per cent of content shared from the AAP’s main Facebook and Twitter accounts was on the party’s activities in Gujarat.

    Only 15 per cent of the tweets posted by Congress’ official Twitter handle during Nov 21-27 were on the Gujarat polls. Out of 280 tweets posted during these seven days, only 42 were related to the party’s campaigns and party leaders’ rallies in Gujarat.

    Congress’s main Twitter handle posted 14 out of 35 tweets on the Gujarat elections on Monday (Nov 21).

    Similarly, the count was 5 out of 23 tweets on Tuesday, 3 out of 42 tweets on Wednesday, 4 out of 47 tweets on Thursday, 1 out of 41 tweets on Friday, three on Saturday, and 12 out of 45 tweets on Sunday (Nov 27).

    Similarly, 22 per cent of the Facebook posts shared by the party’s official Facebook page were related to the state elections in Gujarat.

    Of 242 Facebook posts during the same period, 53 were on Gujarat elections.

    On the other hand, 75 per cent of posts from the main handles (198 tweets and 194 Facebook posts) were on the events related to Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra from Monday (Nov 21) to Sunday (Nov 27) last week.

    The tweet count was the highest (14) on Monday and the lowest on Friday.

    Congress party’s Twitter handle has 9 million followers, and its Facebook page has 6.3 million followers.

    BJP The BJP maintained the flow of tweets and Facebook posts from its main handles on the party’s public rallies in Gujarat.

    More than 40 per cent of its tweets and above 35 per cent of its Facebook posts shared between November 21 and November 27 were related to the party’s campaigning in Gujarat.

    BJP’s main Twitter handle posted 23 out of 32 tweets on the Gujarat elections on Monday, 38 out of 63 tweets on Tuesday, 20 out of 35 tweets on Wednesday, 13 out of 46 tweets on Thursday, 4 out of 43 tweets on Friday, 15 out of 40 tweets on Saturday, and 14 out of 51 tweets on Sunday.

    ALSO READ | Gujarat hunt for Opposition: AAP fills Congress vacuum in BJP citadel

    Similarly, 37 per cent of the Facebook posts shared by the party’s official Facebook page were on Gujarat polls.

    Out of 169 Facebook posts during the same period, 63 were on the Gujarat elections.

    BJP’s Twitter handle has 19.5 million followers, and its Facebook page has 16 million followers.

    AAP The AAP, which has made an aggressive entry in Gujarat, promoted the party’s campaigning and its chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s rallies from its main Twitter handle and Facebook page.

    AAP’s main social media handles shared 50 per cent of its tweets and 52 per cent of its Facebook posts on the Gujarat elections in the same duration.

    The party’s main Twitter handle posted 131 out of 260 tweets and 81 out of 156 Facebook posts on its leaders’ public rallies in Gujarat.

    The main Twitter handle posted 25 out of 33 tweets on Monday on Gujarat polls, 31 out of 40 tweets on Tuesday, 11 out of 30 tweets on Wednesday, 13 out of 38 tweets on Thursday, 6 out of 50 tweets on Friday, 13 out of 36 tweets on Saturday, and 32 out of 33 tweets on Sunday.

    Similarly, 81 out of 156 Facebook posts, with 93 per cent of its posts on Sunday, were related to the state elections in Gujarat.

    On the same day, its Twitter handle posted 32 out of 33 tweets on Gujarat only.

    The AAP’s Twitter handle has 6.4 million followers, and its Facebook page has 5.5 million followers.

  • Congress sacrificed two prime ministers in terror fight: Kharge counters PM Modi

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress of playing vote bank politics over terrorism, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said his party had sacrificed two prime ministers in the fight against terrorism.

    Kharge questioned whether any leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had fought for the freedom of the country.

    “We have done the work to fight against terrorists. To maintain peace in the country, we have sacrificed our leaders. Indira Gandhi sacrificed her life to keep the country united. Rajiv Gandhi was martyred for the unity of the country. Is there a leader in the BJP who at least fought for the freedom of the country?” Kharge asked.

    Addressing a rally in Kheda in poll-bound Gujarat on Sunday, the prime minister had said Congress views terrorism from the prism of the vote bank”.

    He also said, “terrorism was not over yet and the politics of the Congress has also not changed”.

    “Here (in Congress), we have lost our two famous and world-respected prime ministers to strengthen and unite the country. This is an election of the state Assembly and not of Parliament. We are here before you with the issues affecting the state. It is better if he (Modi) talks about the successes and failures of the state,” Kharge said.

    On the BJP’s poll promise of implementing the Uniform Civil Code in Gujarat, Khrage said it was an attempt to divide society and create controversy for votes.

    “They (BJP) are provoking Congress and other leaders to speak up and get angry. Their aim is to provoke us and divide society, but we are not going to fall into their trap,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Gujarat suffered a lot because of sins of the Congress: PM Modi

    Slamming Modi for seeking votes in his name and claiming only he contributed to the progress of Gujarat as if there were no leaders before him, Kharge said the prime minister keeps talking about the Congress has done nothing in the past 70-odd years.

    “If any party built the country in 70 years, it was Congress,” Kharge said, adding, unlike Modi, he does not take credit for the several thousand crore worths of projects sanctioned when he was Union minister.

    Attacking the BJP’s ‘Gujarat model’ of development, the Congress president said there were five lakh vacancies in government departments, including that of 28,000 teachers.

    “The state’s debt is rising sharply. When we went out of power, we left a debt of Rs 10,000 crore. Today it has swelled to Rs 3.40 lakh crore, and is going to increase further to Rs 4.60 lakh crore during the current fiscal,” Kharge said.

    “The so-called “Gujarat model” is about 4 lakh COVID-19 deaths. They changed three chief ministers in six years. If you change three CMs, it means that you did nothing here. Otherwise, there was no reason to change them,” Kharge said.

    ALSO READ | Congress gave you MGNREGA, scholarships; BJP took away your land: Rahul to tribals in Gujarat

    He expressed confidence in Congress winning the Gujarat elections.

    “The BJP has understood the people of Gujarat are deciding in favour of Congress. Despite being in power for 27 years, it has become necessary for the BJP to bring in the prime minister, Union home minister, four to five chief ministers to make inflammatory speeches to mislead people,” he claimed.

    Gujarat will see two-phase Assembly polls on December 1 and 5, and the counting of votes will take place on December 8.

    In the 2017 Assembly polls, the Congress had won 77 seats in the 182-member Assembly restricting BJP to 99.

    AHMEDABAD: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress of playing vote bank politics over terrorism, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said his party had sacrificed two prime ministers in the fight against terrorism.

    Kharge questioned whether any leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had fought for the freedom of the country.

    “We have done the work to fight against terrorists. To maintain peace in the country, we have sacrificed our leaders. Indira Gandhi sacrificed her life to keep the country united. Rajiv Gandhi was martyred for the unity of the country. Is there a leader in the BJP who at least fought for the freedom of the country?” Kharge asked.

    Addressing a rally in Kheda in poll-bound Gujarat on Sunday, the prime minister had said Congress views terrorism from the prism of the vote bank”.

    He also said, “terrorism was not over yet and the politics of the Congress has also not changed”.

    “Here (in Congress), we have lost our two famous and world-respected prime ministers to strengthen and unite the country. This is an election of the state Assembly and not of Parliament. We are here before you with the issues affecting the state. It is better if he (Modi) talks about the successes and failures of the state,” Kharge said.

    On the BJP’s poll promise of implementing the Uniform Civil Code in Gujarat, Khrage said it was an attempt to divide society and create controversy for votes.

    “They (BJP) are provoking Congress and other leaders to speak up and get angry. Their aim is to provoke us and divide society, but we are not going to fall into their trap,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Gujarat suffered a lot because of sins of the Congress: PM Modi

    Slamming Modi for seeking votes in his name and claiming only he contributed to the progress of Gujarat as if there were no leaders before him, Kharge said the prime minister keeps talking about the Congress has done nothing in the past 70-odd years.

    “If any party built the country in 70 years, it was Congress,” Kharge said, adding, unlike Modi, he does not take credit for the several thousand crore worths of projects sanctioned when he was Union minister.

    Attacking the BJP’s ‘Gujarat model’ of development, the Congress president said there were five lakh vacancies in government departments, including that of 28,000 teachers.

    “The state’s debt is rising sharply. When we went out of power, we left a debt of Rs 10,000 crore. Today it has swelled to Rs 3.40 lakh crore, and is going to increase further to Rs 4.60 lakh crore during the current fiscal,” Kharge said.

    “The so-called “Gujarat model” is about 4 lakh COVID-19 deaths. They changed three chief ministers in six years. If you change three CMs, it means that you did nothing here. Otherwise, there was no reason to change them,” Kharge said.

    ALSO READ | Congress gave you MGNREGA, scholarships; BJP took away your land: Rahul to tribals in Gujarat

    He expressed confidence in Congress winning the Gujarat elections.

    “The BJP has understood the people of Gujarat are deciding in favour of Congress. Despite being in power for 27 years, it has become necessary for the BJP to bring in the prime minister, Union home minister, four to five chief ministers to make inflammatory speeches to mislead people,” he claimed.

    Gujarat will see two-phase Assembly polls on December 1 and 5, and the counting of votes will take place on December 8.

    In the 2017 Assembly polls, the Congress had won 77 seats in the 182-member Assembly restricting BJP to 99.

  • Gujarat Assembly polls: 456 ‘crorepati’ candidates in fray; BJP’s Jayanti Patel richest with Rs 661 crore

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: As many as 456, or around 28 per cent, of 1,621 candidates contesting the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections are ‘crorepatis’ who have declared assets worth Rs 1 crore or more, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said on Monday.

    The BJP tops the list with a total of 154 ‘crorepati’ candidates, followed by Congress with 142, and AAP has 68.

    The average asset of candidates in the fray is Rs 2.56 crore, the ADR report informed.

    Bharatiya Janata Party’s Jayanti Patel, contesting from the Mansa seat in Gandhinagar, is the richest candidate with declared assets of Rs 661 crore, followed by BJP’s Balvant Rajput of Sidhpur with Rs 372 crore and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s Ajitsinh Thakor, who is contesting from Dabhoi seat, with declared assets of Rs 342 crore.

    There are 221 ‘crorepatis’ among the 788 contestants in the fray for the first phase of elections for 89 seats scheduled on December 1.

    The number of such candidates stands at 245 out of the total 833 contestants in the fray for the 93 seats that will go to polls in the second and final phase on December 5, as per the ADR report.

    It said six candidates in the fray have declared “zero” assets, while another six have said their assets are worth less than Rs 10,000.

    ALSO READ | How scrapped project can hurt BJP in Gujarat tribal seats

    Jayanti Patel, the richest candidate as per the ADR report, also has the highest liability at Rs 233 crore.

    In terms of educational qualifications, 42 candidates have declared themselves to be illiterate, 85 “just literate”, while 997 have said they have studied between Classes 5-12.449 candidates are graduates.

    Informing about the age profile, the ADR report said two candidates are above the age of 80, 197 are between 61-80 years of age, 861 are between 41-60 and 561 in the 25-40 age group segment.

    The report claimed a “close and alarming nexus” between money and muscle power hurt the principles of free and fair elections, ‘participatory democracy’ as well as the ‘level playing field’.

    “The present circumstances, therefore, demand an extensive deliberation by the voters so that the sanctity of elections is not ridiculed by the tenacious entry of tainted candidates and candidates with abnormal multiplication of assets,” it said.

    The ADR said the Election Commission and state ECs should make it mandatory to display boards outside the polling booths showing a summarised version of candidates’ affidavits in all the elections.

    The polling booths should essentially display details of a candidate’s criminal records, assets and liabilities and education qualification, it said.

    AHMEDABAD: As many as 456, or around 28 per cent, of 1,621 candidates contesting the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections are ‘crorepatis’ who have declared assets worth Rs 1 crore or more, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said on Monday.

    The BJP tops the list with a total of 154 ‘crorepati’ candidates, followed by Congress with 142, and AAP has 68.

    The average asset of candidates in the fray is Rs 2.56 crore, the ADR report informed.

    Bharatiya Janata Party’s Jayanti Patel, contesting from the Mansa seat in Gandhinagar, is the richest candidate with declared assets of Rs 661 crore, followed by BJP’s Balvant Rajput of Sidhpur with Rs 372 crore and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s Ajitsinh Thakor, who is contesting from Dabhoi seat, with declared assets of Rs 342 crore.

    There are 221 ‘crorepatis’ among the 788 contestants in the fray for the first phase of elections for 89 seats scheduled on December 1.

    The number of such candidates stands at 245 out of the total 833 contestants in the fray for the 93 seats that will go to polls in the second and final phase on December 5, as per the ADR report.

    It said six candidates in the fray have declared “zero” assets, while another six have said their assets are worth less than Rs 10,000.

    ALSO READ | How scrapped project can hurt BJP in Gujarat tribal seats

    Jayanti Patel, the richest candidate as per the ADR report, also has the highest liability at Rs 233 crore.

    In terms of educational qualifications, 42 candidates have declared themselves to be illiterate, 85 “just literate”, while 997 have said they have studied between Classes 5-12.449 candidates are graduates.

    Informing about the age profile, the ADR report said two candidates are above the age of 80, 197 are between 61-80 years of age, 861 are between 41-60 and 561 in the 25-40 age group segment.

    The report claimed a “close and alarming nexus” between money and muscle power hurt the principles of free and fair elections, ‘participatory democracy’ as well as the ‘level playing field’.

    “The present circumstances, therefore, demand an extensive deliberation by the voters so that the sanctity of elections is not ridiculed by the tenacious entry of tainted candidates and candidates with abnormal multiplication of assets,” it said.

    The ADR said the Election Commission and state ECs should make it mandatory to display boards outside the polling booths showing a summarised version of candidates’ affidavits in all the elections.

    The polling booths should essentially display details of a candidate’s criminal records, assets and liabilities and education qualification, it said.

  • Gujarat: Drug hauls, water crisis and communal divide dominate poll scene in Kutch

    By PTI

    KUTCH: As the Pakistan bordering Kutch district of Gujarat goes to polls next month, drug hauls worth thousands of crores of rupees, water crisis in this arid region and sporadic incidents of communal clashes have become major election issues in the area.

    Last year, in a major drug haul, around 3,000 kg of heroin worth nearly Rs 21,000 crore was seized at the Mundra Port in Kutch, the country’s largest district which shares land and marine border with Pakistan.

    While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been trying to project it as national security being in safe hands with the saffron camp in power, the opposition Congress has questioned the failure of the state and the Centre from stopping drug trafficking.

    There have also been a number of other cases of drugs seizure in Kutch in the recent past.

    “The question is not about how much was seized, but how this (heroin seized last year) consignment came under the radar. What about other such consignments which might have passed without being noticed? The people of the state want to know what steps have been taken to prevent such incidents,” state Congress leader and spokesperson Lalit Vasoya told PTI.

    The Congress, in its campaign, especially in the bordering areas, has been harping on the issue of drug menace in the state and the Kutch region being used as a safe passage by drug traffickers.

    Refuting the allegations as baseless, BJP’s Kutch district media in-charge Satvik Gadhvi said the drug seizure is an example of the fact that his party, unlike the Congress, never compromises on the issue of national security.

    “For the BJP, the nation comes first, unlike the Congress for which the vote bank is first and foremost. The seizure proves that the nation and the state are safe,” he said.

    Elections for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held on December 1 and 5.

    Kutch, which goes to polls in the first phase on December 1, has six Assembly constituencies – Abdasa, Bhuj, Rapar, all bordering Pakistan, and Mandvi, Anjar and Gandhidham.

    In 2017, the BJP won four of these seats, while the Congress bagged the minority-influenced Abdasa along with the Rapar constituency.

    But, the MLA from Abdasa switched over to the saffron camp in 2020 and later won the seat on the BJP’s ticket.

    As per the 2011 census data, Kutch had 76.89 per cent Hindus and 21.14 per cent Muslims, with Abdasa and Bhuj Assembly constituencies having a considerable minority population.

    While Gujarat had been in news for the post-2002 Godhra riots, Kutch, which was reeling under the effect of the 2001 earthquake, remained insulated from communal politics until a few years back.

    But it is not the case this time as there has been a simmering communal divide in various parts of Kutch over multiple issues, including sporadic incidents of such violence reported in the last two years.

    In August this year, a murder led to a communal clash in Madhapur village in Kutch.

    In January last year, there was a clash between members of two communities in Kidana village during a rally for collection of funds for the Ram temple construction.

    “Kutch has always been peaceful despite whatever is happening in other parts of the state. But the situation is not the same now. There is an atmosphere of mistrust among communities, and political parties are trying to gain from it,” 68-year-old fruit vendor in Bhuj town Parwez Sheikh claimed.

    But, Kutch BJP district unit leader Ghanshyam Thakkar told PTI that his party has maintained communal harmony in the area.

    “The Congress and the AIMIM are trying to disturb the communal harmony of the area,” he claimed.

    “We will never allow this to happen,” he added.

    According to district Congress leaders, the entry of new players, like the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), has further made the poll fight interesting in the region, with minorities now having options other than the grand old party.

    The AAP is contesting in all the six seats, while the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM is contesting in two seats.

    Some local BJP leaders, on condition of anonymity, claimed the saffron camp will gain from the AAP and AIMIM contesting the polls.

    “In Bhuj and Abdasa, if the AIMIM and AAP respectively manage to cut even 15,000 opposition votes, it would benefit us,” a BJP leader said.

    The opposition Congress this time hopes to make a clean sweep against the BJP in the district.

    Kutch district Congress President Yajuvendra Jadeja said the BJP knows that 27 years of anti-incumbency is taking a heavy toll on it, and they are using everything at their disposal to win the elections.

    “From using the AIMIM and the AAP, they are doing everything to divide the opposition. But it won’t yield any results. These two parties are just B-teams of the BJP,” he claimed.

    However, the AAP and the AIMIM district leadership have dubbed such allegations as “baseless”.

    “We are not the B-team of any party. The truth is that neither the BJP nor the Congress has done anything for the Muslim community of Gujarat,” AIMIM candidate from Bhuj Sakil Sama said.

    Another key issue in the region is the water crisis, especially getting supply from the Narmada river.

    The Kutch Branch Canal is a branch of the Narmada Main Canal (NMC), which originates at Kevadia and is supposed to provide water to the Mandvi area.

    In other areas, such as Abdasa and Bhuj, the work for a pipeline for the canal connecting it with the NMC is yet to start, thus leaving the entire region yearning for water.

    Locals depend on deep borewells, rainwater or government tankers for water supply in the region.

    The local BJP unit agreed that “water crisis” is a major issue, but blamed the Narmada Bachao Andolan for the constant delay in the Sardar Sarovar Project.

    “The entire project has been delayed due to the Narmada Bachao Andolan. We are confident that once the elections are over, the work will start on a war footing to set up the infrastructure to bring in regular water supply in the region,” BJP MLA from Abdasa Pradhyuman Sinh Jadeja told PTI.

    On the other hand, the Congress claims water crisis in the region is the biggest example of the BJP’s administrative and political failure.

    “Even after 27 years, if you have to blame others for failing to provide water in the region, then BJP leaders should quit politics and sit back at home. This is the biggest example of BJP’s administrative failure,” Yajuvendra Jadeja said.

    Senior AAP leader Ankita Gor said if voted to power, the party would ensure drinking water facilities in each household of the region.

    KUTCH: As the Pakistan bordering Kutch district of Gujarat goes to polls next month, drug hauls worth thousands of crores of rupees, water crisis in this arid region and sporadic incidents of communal clashes have become major election issues in the area.

    Last year, in a major drug haul, around 3,000 kg of heroin worth nearly Rs 21,000 crore was seized at the Mundra Port in Kutch, the country’s largest district which shares land and marine border with Pakistan.

    While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been trying to project it as national security being in safe hands with the saffron camp in power, the opposition Congress has questioned the failure of the state and the Centre from stopping drug trafficking.

    There have also been a number of other cases of drugs seizure in Kutch in the recent past.

    “The question is not about how much was seized, but how this (heroin seized last year) consignment came under the radar. What about other such consignments which might have passed without being noticed? The people of the state want to know what steps have been taken to prevent such incidents,” state Congress leader and spokesperson Lalit Vasoya told PTI.

    The Congress, in its campaign, especially in the bordering areas, has been harping on the issue of drug menace in the state and the Kutch region being used as a safe passage by drug traffickers.

    Refuting the allegations as baseless, BJP’s Kutch district media in-charge Satvik Gadhvi said the drug seizure is an example of the fact that his party, unlike the Congress, never compromises on the issue of national security.

    “For the BJP, the nation comes first, unlike the Congress for which the vote bank is first and foremost. The seizure proves that the nation and the state are safe,” he said.

    Elections for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held on December 1 and 5.

    Kutch, which goes to polls in the first phase on December 1, has six Assembly constituencies – Abdasa, Bhuj, Rapar, all bordering Pakistan, and Mandvi, Anjar and Gandhidham.

    In 2017, the BJP won four of these seats, while the Congress bagged the minority-influenced Abdasa along with the Rapar constituency.

    But, the MLA from Abdasa switched over to the saffron camp in 2020 and later won the seat on the BJP’s ticket.

    As per the 2011 census data, Kutch had 76.89 per cent Hindus and 21.14 per cent Muslims, with Abdasa and Bhuj Assembly constituencies having a considerable minority population.

    While Gujarat had been in news for the post-2002 Godhra riots, Kutch, which was reeling under the effect of the 2001 earthquake, remained insulated from communal politics until a few years back.

    But it is not the case this time as there has been a simmering communal divide in various parts of Kutch over multiple issues, including sporadic incidents of such violence reported in the last two years.

    In August this year, a murder led to a communal clash in Madhapur village in Kutch.

    In January last year, there was a clash between members of two communities in Kidana village during a rally for collection of funds for the Ram temple construction.

    “Kutch has always been peaceful despite whatever is happening in other parts of the state. But the situation is not the same now. There is an atmosphere of mistrust among communities, and political parties are trying to gain from it,” 68-year-old fruit vendor in Bhuj town Parwez Sheikh claimed.

    But, Kutch BJP district unit leader Ghanshyam Thakkar told PTI that his party has maintained communal harmony in the area.

    “The Congress and the AIMIM are trying to disturb the communal harmony of the area,” he claimed.

    “We will never allow this to happen,” he added.

    According to district Congress leaders, the entry of new players, like the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), has further made the poll fight interesting in the region, with minorities now having options other than the grand old party.

    The AAP is contesting in all the six seats, while the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM is contesting in two seats.

    Some local BJP leaders, on condition of anonymity, claimed the saffron camp will gain from the AAP and AIMIM contesting the polls.

    “In Bhuj and Abdasa, if the AIMIM and AAP respectively manage to cut even 15,000 opposition votes, it would benefit us,” a BJP leader said.

    The opposition Congress this time hopes to make a clean sweep against the BJP in the district.

    Kutch district Congress President Yajuvendra Jadeja said the BJP knows that 27 years of anti-incumbency is taking a heavy toll on it, and they are using everything at their disposal to win the elections.

    “From using the AIMIM and the AAP, they are doing everything to divide the opposition. But it won’t yield any results. These two parties are just B-teams of the BJP,” he claimed.

    However, the AAP and the AIMIM district leadership have dubbed such allegations as “baseless”.

    “We are not the B-team of any party. The truth is that neither the BJP nor the Congress has done anything for the Muslim community of Gujarat,” AIMIM candidate from Bhuj Sakil Sama said.

    Another key issue in the region is the water crisis, especially getting supply from the Narmada river.

    The Kutch Branch Canal is a branch of the Narmada Main Canal (NMC), which originates at Kevadia and is supposed to provide water to the Mandvi area.

    In other areas, such as Abdasa and Bhuj, the work for a pipeline for the canal connecting it with the NMC is yet to start, thus leaving the entire region yearning for water.

    Locals depend on deep borewells, rainwater or government tankers for water supply in the region.

    The local BJP unit agreed that “water crisis” is a major issue, but blamed the Narmada Bachao Andolan for the constant delay in the Sardar Sarovar Project.

    “The entire project has been delayed due to the Narmada Bachao Andolan. We are confident that once the elections are over, the work will start on a war footing to set up the infrastructure to bring in regular water supply in the region,” BJP MLA from Abdasa Pradhyuman Sinh Jadeja told PTI.

    On the other hand, the Congress claims water crisis in the region is the biggest example of the BJP’s administrative and political failure.

    “Even after 27 years, if you have to blame others for failing to provide water in the region, then BJP leaders should quit politics and sit back at home. This is the biggest example of BJP’s administrative failure,” Yajuvendra Jadeja said.

    Senior AAP leader Ankita Gor said if voted to power, the party would ensure drinking water facilities in each household of the region.

  • Rs 75 lakh cash seized from car in Surat, VIP pass bearing Congress neta’s name found: Officials

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD: The Static Surveillance team (SST) on Wednesday seized Rs 75 lakh in cash from Innova car number MH.04. ES.9907 parked at Rangrej Tower near Jadakhadi Mohalla in Mahidhar Pura area of Surat City. just days ahead of the assembly elections.

    On Tuesday night, the team intercepted a car with three occupants and on searching, it found Rs 75 lakh in cash.

    Two persons — Uday Gurjar who belongs to Delhi, and Mohammad Faiz, who belongs to Surat, were detained and questioned by the police. Police sources claimed a third person name Sandeep managed to escape.

    During investigation, police sources found that an Innova car was registered under the name of ‘Vinayak Travels’.

    SST officials also said they found leaflets of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Surat rally from the vehicle beside a VIP car pass bearing the name of B.M. Sandeep, the AICC secretary and the party’s in-charge of South Gujarat region.

    Surat BJP media spokesperson Jagdish Patel alleged that this indicates the involvement of a Congress leader. He claimed that further investigation will reveal whose money it is.

    Refuting the allegations, Gujarat Congress President Jagdish Thakor called it a ‘conspiracy’ to defame the party. “Let the police investigate the case, whoever is guilty must be punished. Congress never saves the guilty,” he said.

    Police sources said that the Income Tax department will conduct further investigation.

    Gujarat which has 182 assembly constituencies will go for polling in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will occur on December 8, which coincides with Himachal Pradesh’s result date.

    AHMEDABAD: The Static Surveillance team (SST) on Wednesday seized Rs 75 lakh in cash from Innova car number MH.04. ES.9907 parked at Rangrej Tower near Jadakhadi Mohalla in Mahidhar Pura area of Surat City. just days ahead of the assembly elections.

    On Tuesday night, the team intercepted a car with three occupants and on searching, it found Rs 75 lakh in cash.

    Two persons — Uday Gurjar who belongs to Delhi, and Mohammad Faiz, who belongs to Surat, were detained and questioned by the police. Police sources claimed a third person name Sandeep managed to escape.

    During investigation, police sources found that an Innova car was registered under the name of ‘Vinayak Travels’.

    SST officials also said they found leaflets of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Surat rally from the vehicle beside a VIP car pass bearing the name of B.M. Sandeep, the AICC secretary and the party’s in-charge of South Gujarat region.

    Surat BJP media spokesperson Jagdish Patel alleged that this indicates the involvement of a Congress leader. He claimed that further investigation will reveal whose money it is.

    Refuting the allegations, Gujarat Congress President Jagdish Thakor called it a ‘conspiracy’ to defame the party. “Let the police investigate the case, whoever is guilty must be punished. Congress never saves the guilty,” he said.

    Police sources said that the Income Tax department will conduct further investigation.

    Gujarat which has 182 assembly constituencies will go for polling in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will occur on December 8, which coincides with Himachal Pradesh’s result date.

  • Why did Congress never think of making an Adivasi our President, asks PM Modi

    By PTI

    DAHOD (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked why the Congress did not support Droupadi Murmu in the presidential election if the opposition party was so concerned about tribals.

    He was speaking at an election rally in the tribal-dominated Dahod town of central Gujarat for BJP candidates in the region.

    Constituencies in central Gujarat will go to the polls on December 5, in the second phase of the Assembly elections.

    Speaking at a rally in tribal-dominated Mahuva village in Surat district on Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of snatching away the rights of tribals.

    Modi referred to Gandhi and his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra in the speech.

    ALSO READ | Congress gave you MGNREGA, scholarships; BJP took away your land: Rahul to tribals in Gujarat

    “A person is conducting a foot-march to get back power. In his speech, he talks about tribals. I want to ask him, why Congress did not support the BJP’s woman tribal candidate in the presidential election? Instead, they fielded their own candidate to defeat her,” the prime minister said.

    “Despite Congress’ efforts’ Droupadi Murmu became President “with the blessings of tribal people,” he added.

    “Why did Congress never think of making an Adivasi (tribal) our President? It was the BJP which made a tribal person, that too a woman, our country’s President for the first time and sent a message to the world,” Modi said.

    He also accused the Congress of not paying attention to the development of the British-era Parel area of Dahod.

    “But, as PM, I remembered it, and now investment worth Rs 20,000 crore has come here for building railway locomotives. These locomotives will be exported to other countries too. This huge investment will ultimately benefit the locals,” he said.

    Dahod district received a host of facilities and benefits under the BJP government including engineering and nursing colleges, a medical college, tap water connections and development of amenities under the Smart City Project, Modi said.

    DAHOD (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked why the Congress did not support Droupadi Murmu in the presidential election if the opposition party was so concerned about tribals.

    He was speaking at an election rally in the tribal-dominated Dahod town of central Gujarat for BJP candidates in the region.

    Constituencies in central Gujarat will go to the polls on December 5, in the second phase of the Assembly elections.

    Speaking at a rally in tribal-dominated Mahuva village in Surat district on Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of snatching away the rights of tribals.

    Modi referred to Gandhi and his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra in the speech.

    ALSO READ | Congress gave you MGNREGA, scholarships; BJP took away your land: Rahul to tribals in Gujarat

    “A person is conducting a foot-march to get back power. In his speech, he talks about tribals. I want to ask him, why Congress did not support the BJP’s woman tribal candidate in the presidential election? Instead, they fielded their own candidate to defeat her,” the prime minister said.

    “Despite Congress’ efforts’ Droupadi Murmu became President “with the blessings of tribal people,” he added.

    “Why did Congress never think of making an Adivasi (tribal) our President? It was the BJP which made a tribal person, that too a woman, our country’s President for the first time and sent a message to the world,” Modi said.

    He also accused the Congress of not paying attention to the development of the British-era Parel area of Dahod.

    “But, as PM, I remembered it, and now investment worth Rs 20,000 crore has come here for building railway locomotives. These locomotives will be exported to other countries too. This huge investment will ultimately benefit the locals,” he said.

    Dahod district received a host of facilities and benefits under the BJP government including engineering and nursing colleges, a medical college, tap water connections and development of amenities under the Smart City Project, Modi said.

  • Gujarat polls | Congress left no stone unturned to insult Sardar Patel: Amit Shah

    By PTI

    KHAMBHAT: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday alleged that the Congress did everything possible to “insult” Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and it has started praising him only now in view of the Gujarat Assembly elections.

    Even the last rites of the country’s first deputy prime minister were performed in an “unceremonious” way, the BJP leader said at an election rally at Khambhat in Gujarat’s Anand district.

    “I am surprised that the Congress now praises Sardar Patel. Since my childhood, I have never heard any Congress leader talking about Patel. Instead, they left no stone unturned to insult Patel, right from performing his last rites in an unceremonious manner to ensuring that no monument was built in his memory,” Shah said.

    Voting for Khambhat and 92 other seats will take place on December 5, in the second phase of the Assembly elections.

    Shah further said that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who paid a real tribute to Patel by constructing the Statue of Unity, Patel’s statue which is the world’s tallest monument.

    He also dared Congress candidate from Khambhat, Chirag Patel to produce any photograph where he is seen paying tributes to Sardar Patel at the Statue of Unity.

    “No Congress leader dares to visit the Statue of Unity at Kevadia for fear of losing ticket,” he claimed.

    He also accused the Congress of opposing the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya and the Triple Talaq prohibition law for its vote-bank politics.

    “If they support such causes, they fear they will lose those votes. I hope you understand which votes I am talking about. But their time is now over and PM Modi’s time has started. Rahul Baba (Gandhi), book a ticket to Ayodhya because a grand temple is going to be inaugurated on January 1, 2024,” said Shah.ALSO READ | Bhupendra is `puppet CM’, can not even change his peon: Kejriwal

    KHAMBHAT: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday alleged that the Congress did everything possible to “insult” Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and it has started praising him only now in view of the Gujarat Assembly elections.

    Even the last rites of the country’s first deputy prime minister were performed in an “unceremonious” way, the BJP leader said at an election rally at Khambhat in Gujarat’s Anand district.

    “I am surprised that the Congress now praises Sardar Patel. Since my childhood, I have never heard any Congress leader talking about Patel. Instead, they left no stone unturned to insult Patel, right from performing his last rites in an unceremonious manner to ensuring that no monument was built in his memory,” Shah said.

    Voting for Khambhat and 92 other seats will take place on December 5, in the second phase of the Assembly elections.

    Shah further said that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who paid a real tribute to Patel by constructing the Statue of Unity, Patel’s statue which is the world’s tallest monument.

    He also dared Congress candidate from Khambhat, Chirag Patel to produce any photograph where he is seen paying tributes to Sardar Patel at the Statue of Unity.

    “No Congress leader dares to visit the Statue of Unity at Kevadia for fear of losing ticket,” he claimed.

    He also accused the Congress of opposing the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya and the Triple Talaq prohibition law for its vote-bank politics.

    “If they support such causes, they fear they will lose those votes. I hope you understand which votes I am talking about. But their time is now over and PM Modi’s time has started. Rahul Baba (Gandhi), book a ticket to Ayodhya because a grand temple is going to be inaugurated on January 1, 2024,” said Shah.ALSO READ | Bhupendra is `puppet CM’, can not even change his peon: Kejriwal

  • Gujarat polls |  AAP will lose as it is `banner-based’ party: JP Nadda

    “AAP will lose because it is a banner-based party which can only paste banners during the polls while we are a cadre-based party which believes in serving people,” the BJP chief said.

  • Gujarat polls | Bhupendra is `puppet CM’, can not even change his peon: Kejriwal

    By PTI

    DEVBHUMI DWARKA: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said Bhupendra Patel is a “puppet Chief Minister” of Gujarat who can not even appoint his peon.

    Speaking at a campaign rally at Khambhalia in Devbhumi Dwarka district for AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi, he also alleged that there is secret collusion between the BJP and Congress.

    “There are two faces before the people of Gujarat. One is Isudan Gadhvi and the other is Bhupendra Patel. Who will you vote for, who will you make chief minister?” Kejriwal asked.

    Gadhvi is a young, educated man “whose heart beats for the poor” and he is also the son of a farmer, the Delhi chief minister said.

    “When he hosted a show on TV, he raised the issues of farmers and did not indulge in ‘tu-tu-main-main’ (noisy debates). He has worked for the farmers and dedicated his life for the farmers and unemployed youth,” Kejriwal said.

    “On the other hand, there is Bhupendra Patel. He has no power, he is a ‘kathputli’ (puppet) CM. He cannot even change his peon. He is a good man, he is not bad. I have heard that he is very religious. But nobody listens to him. He is a puppet CM,” the AAP leader said, asking the audience if they wanted a puppet CM or an educated CM.

    Kejriwal also claimed that chairs were empty at Union home minister Amit Shah’s rally at Khambhalia on Monday.

    “People of Khambhalia did not attend his rally, and today thousands of people have come here….They are here to make their son Isudan the CM of Gujarat,” he said.

    Earlier, people had no option even if they wanted to throw out the BJP, and the Congress is in cahoots with the ruling party from the inside, Kejriwal claimed.

    He compared the relationship between the BJP and Congress to that between a boy and a girl who meet secretly before marriage.

    “When you ask them, they will say there is nothing but friendship between them. Similarly, when you ask them (Congress and BJP), they will say there is nothing but friendship between us. I am telling them that this is enough, they are exposed now, and should get married. Everybody knows that you are a couple, so get married,” he said.

    But now there was a “real chance” to choose an alternative in the form of the AAP, Kejriwal added.

    There was a wave in favour of his party in Gujarat, the Delhi chief minister claimed.

    “I wonder how this happened, and then I close my eyes and bring my hands together and realise that it is being organised by some divine power,” he said, adding that his party has the blessings of “Lord Krishna and Devi.”

    “It is written in the Gita that whenever the vessel of sins is full, God sweeps his broom,” he said.

    DEVBHUMI DWARKA: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said Bhupendra Patel is a “puppet Chief Minister” of Gujarat who can not even appoint his peon.

    Speaking at a campaign rally at Khambhalia in Devbhumi Dwarka district for AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi, he also alleged that there is secret collusion between the BJP and Congress.

    “There are two faces before the people of Gujarat. One is Isudan Gadhvi and the other is Bhupendra Patel. Who will you vote for, who will you make chief minister?” Kejriwal asked.

    Gadhvi is a young, educated man “whose heart beats for the poor” and he is also the son of a farmer, the Delhi chief minister said.

    “When he hosted a show on TV, he raised the issues of farmers and did not indulge in ‘tu-tu-main-main’ (noisy debates). He has worked for the farmers and dedicated his life for the farmers and unemployed youth,” Kejriwal said.

    “On the other hand, there is Bhupendra Patel. He has no power, he is a ‘kathputli’ (puppet) CM. He cannot even change his peon. He is a good man, he is not bad. I have heard that he is very religious. But nobody listens to him. He is a puppet CM,” the AAP leader said, asking the audience if they wanted a puppet CM or an educated CM.

    Kejriwal also claimed that chairs were empty at Union home minister Amit Shah’s rally at Khambhalia on Monday.

    “People of Khambhalia did not attend his rally, and today thousands of people have come here….They are here to make their son Isudan the CM of Gujarat,” he said.

    Earlier, people had no option even if they wanted to throw out the BJP, and the Congress is in cahoots with the ruling party from the inside, Kejriwal claimed.

    He compared the relationship between the BJP and Congress to that between a boy and a girl who meet secretly before marriage.

    “When you ask them, they will say there is nothing but friendship between them. Similarly, when you ask them (Congress and BJP), they will say there is nothing but friendship between us. I am telling them that this is enough, they are exposed now, and should get married. Everybody knows that you are a couple, so get married,” he said.

    But now there was a “real chance” to choose an alternative in the form of the AAP, Kejriwal added.

    There was a wave in favour of his party in Gujarat, the Delhi chief minister claimed.

    “I wonder how this happened, and then I close my eyes and bring my hands together and realise that it is being organised by some divine power,” he said, adding that his party has the blessings of “Lord Krishna and Devi.”

    “It is written in the Gita that whenever the vessel of sins is full, God sweeps his broom,” he said.

  • Gujarat polls | Bhupendra Patel is ‘puppet CM’, can’t even change his peon: Kejriwal

    By PTI

    DEVBHUMI DWARKA: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said Bhupendra Patel is a “puppet Chief Minister” of Gujarat who can not even appoint his peon.

    Speaking at a campaign rally at Khambhalia in Devbhumi Dwarka district for AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi, he also alleged that there is secret collusion between the BJP and Congress.

    “There are two faces before the people of Gujarat. One is Isudan Gadhvi and the other is Bhupendra Patel. Who will you vote for, who will you make chief minister?” Kejriwal asked.

    Gadhvi is a young, educated man “whose heart beats for the poor” and he is also the son of a farmer, the Delhi chief minister said.

    “When he hosted a show on TV, he raised the issues of farmers and did not indulge in ‘tu-tu-main-main’ (noisy debates). He has worked for the farmers and dedicated his life for the farmers and unemployed youth,” Kejriwal said.

    “On the other hand, there is Bhupendra Patel. He has no power, he is a ‘kathputli’ (puppet) CM. He cannot even change his peon. He is a good man, he is not bad. I have heard that he is very religious. But nobody listens to him. He is a puppet CM,” the AAP leader said, asking the audience if they wanted a puppet CM or an educated CM.

    Kejriwal also claimed that chairs were empty at Union home minister Amit Shah’s rally at Khambhalia on Monday.

    “People of Khambhalia did not attend his rally, and today thousands of people have come here….They are here to make their son Isudan the CM of Gujarat,” he said.

    Earlier, people had no option even if they wanted to throw out the BJP, and the Congress is in cahoots with the ruling party from the inside, Kejriwal claimed.

    He compared the relationship between the BJP and Congress to that between a boy and a girl who meet secretly before marriage.

    “When you ask them, they will say there is nothing but friendship between them. Similarly, when you ask them (Congress and BJP), they will say there is nothing but friendship between us. I am telling them that this is enough, they are exposed now, and should get married. Everybody knows that you are a couple, so get married,” he said.

    But now there was a “real chance” to choose an alternative in the form of the AAP, Kejriwal added.

    There was a wave in favour of his party in Gujarat, the Delhi chief minister claimed.

    “I wonder how this happened, and then I close my eyes and bring my hands together and realise that it is being organised by some divine power,” he said, adding that his party has the blessings of “Lord Krishna and Devi.”

    “It is written in the Gita that whenever the vessel of sins is full, God sweeps his broom,” he said.

    DEVBHUMI DWARKA: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said Bhupendra Patel is a “puppet Chief Minister” of Gujarat who can not even appoint his peon.

    Speaking at a campaign rally at Khambhalia in Devbhumi Dwarka district for AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi, he also alleged that there is secret collusion between the BJP and Congress.

    “There are two faces before the people of Gujarat. One is Isudan Gadhvi and the other is Bhupendra Patel. Who will you vote for, who will you make chief minister?” Kejriwal asked.

    Gadhvi is a young, educated man “whose heart beats for the poor” and he is also the son of a farmer, the Delhi chief minister said.

    “When he hosted a show on TV, he raised the issues of farmers and did not indulge in ‘tu-tu-main-main’ (noisy debates). He has worked for the farmers and dedicated his life for the farmers and unemployed youth,” Kejriwal said.

    “On the other hand, there is Bhupendra Patel. He has no power, he is a ‘kathputli’ (puppet) CM. He cannot even change his peon. He is a good man, he is not bad. I have heard that he is very religious. But nobody listens to him. He is a puppet CM,” the AAP leader said, asking the audience if they wanted a puppet CM or an educated CM.

    Kejriwal also claimed that chairs were empty at Union home minister Amit Shah’s rally at Khambhalia on Monday.

    “People of Khambhalia did not attend his rally, and today thousands of people have come here….They are here to make their son Isudan the CM of Gujarat,” he said.

    Earlier, people had no option even if they wanted to throw out the BJP, and the Congress is in cahoots with the ruling party from the inside, Kejriwal claimed.

    He compared the relationship between the BJP and Congress to that between a boy and a girl who meet secretly before marriage.

    “When you ask them, they will say there is nothing but friendship between them. Similarly, when you ask them (Congress and BJP), they will say there is nothing but friendship between us. I am telling them that this is enough, they are exposed now, and should get married. Everybody knows that you are a couple, so get married,” he said.

    But now there was a “real chance” to choose an alternative in the form of the AAP, Kejriwal added.

    There was a wave in favour of his party in Gujarat, the Delhi chief minister claimed.

    “I wonder how this happened, and then I close my eyes and bring my hands together and realise that it is being organised by some divine power,” he said, adding that his party has the blessings of “Lord Krishna and Devi.”

    “It is written in the Gita that whenever the vessel of sins is full, God sweeps his broom,” he said.