With just 5 more days to go for the first phase of Gujarat Assembly polls, electioneering has reached a feverish pitch. Major political parties including BJP and Congress have fielded their star campaigners in the 87 constituencies spread over 15 districts to woo the voters. Polling will be held next Thursday.
Talking to media persons at Vadodara today Congress leader Ahmed Patel rejected Narendra Modi's statement that he was in the race for the Chief Minister ship of Gujarat. Terming Modi's statement as irresponsible Patel said that he was never in the race for the Chief Minister ship of Gujarat. He said people of the state are in favour of change and it will happen in the assembly elections. Later Patel addressed election meetings in South Gujarat charging Chief Minister Narendra Modi with making false promises.
Congress leader and Union Minister of State for Power Jyotiraditya Scindhia came down heavily on the Modi government for charging 20 percent electricity duty from consumers. He told the media in Vadodara that the Modi government is engaged in selling power to other states ignoring the interests of Gujarat and earning 1,700 crore rupees, a year. Dismissing the claim of development by the Modi Government, Scindia said there is a high rate of mortality, women’s death and malnourishment of children in the state.
BJP leader and party’s leader in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitly criticised Congress President Sonia Gandhi for not recognising the development in Gujarat. Addressing reporters at Ahmedabad this evening he alleged that Congress is responsible for price rise and corruption. Addressing series of public meetings in the state, Chief Minister Narendra Modi also criticised Congress for making false allegations on BJP Government.
Union Minister, Ajay Maken rejected Gujarat Chief Miniseter Narendra Modi’s allegations that the state is neglected by the Centre. He said in Ahemedabad that the Union government had selected eight cities from Gujarat for the Rajiv Awas Yojna for undertaking preparatory work and Slum free city plan. The funds were released in March 2010, but till now the plans have not been completed. Ajay Makan said the Centre had sanctioned about 1.4 Lakh houses for the urban poor under JNNURM Programme but only 55 000 houses have been built by the Gujarat government.
Union Minister and Congress leader Sachin Pilot said that BJP’s promise to built 50 lac houses in the state in next five years is totally unrealistic.
