Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address lakhs of BJP workers at the Gujarat Gaurav Mahasammelan in Bhat village near Gandhinagar. The event is likely to see attendees like BJP chief Amit Shah as well as Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. (PTI photo) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address lakhs of BJP workers at the Gujarat Gaurav Mahasammelan in Bhat village near Gandhinagar. The event is likely to see attendees like BJP chief Amit Shah as well as Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. (PTI photo) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing a mega rally in Gujarat’s capital Gandhinagar on Monday. Modi’s home state is slated to go to polls around the end of this year. The schedule for polls, however, have not been announced yet.

On Sunday, PM Modi said in a series of tweets: “I bow to the people of Gujarat for blessing BJP for decades. We will always fulfil the dreams of every Gujarati with full strength & vigour.” The prime minister said that the event named Gujarat Gaurav Mahasammelan comes after a culmination of two Gujarat Gaurav Yatras.

Below are the highlights from PM Modi’s mega rally in Gujarat:

5.55 pm: Prime Minister Modi has concluded his address. Thanks for joining our live blog. A follow-up copy will be up shortly.

5.51 pm: For Congress what matters most is power and dynastic politics: PM Modi

5.50 pm: Congress let the waters flow into the sea, but did not allow it to be used by Gujarat: PM Modi at Gujarat Gaurav Yatra.

5.42 pm: These elections are about Vikasvaad Vs Vanshvaad. I am sure Vanshvaad will be defeated: PM Modi

5.40 pm: PM Modi has dared the Congress to contest Gujarat Assembly election on development plank.

5.36 pm: Government is actively striving to remove any issues that GST may have and thousands of new businessmen are registering for it: PM Modi

5.34 pm: PM Modi says the Congress is an equal partner in GST decisions and that it should not spread lies on GST.

5.32 pm: Tearing into the Congress, PM Modi alleged the grand old party has always backed the corrupt and corruption.

5.30 pm: Congress blamed us in every possible manner. But when they saw there was no impact on us, they started blaming our development works: PM Modi

5.26 pm: Congress party always runs away from development: PM Modi

5.24 pm: Those questioning us on development of Gujarat must recall what their contribution has been for the state’s progress: PM Modi

5.20 pm: The (Congress) party has always had a negative approach towards development of Gujarat. They did not even complete Sardar Sarovar project: PM Modi

5.18 pm: The (Congress) party that gave so many leaders to the nation now focus only on spreading lies. They create an atmosphere of pessimism: PM Modi

5.12 pm: I deeply understand and value the potential and hard work of each and every karyakarta: PM Modi

5.10 pm: PM Modi heaped praise on the BJP chief and said that the real man of the match of this year’s Uttar Pradesh assembly election was Amit Shah.

5.00 pm: PM Modi is currently addressing the rally.

4.55 pm: They’re mocking Bullet train, but Gujarat’s people love development: Amit Shah, while taking swipe at Congress.

4.50 pm: Hitting back at Rahul Gandhi, BJP chief Amit Shah said the Congress vice-president has not been able to get a collectorate office made in Amethi and is questioning the BJP’s work in Gujarat.

4.40 pm: Amit Shah is currently speaking as Gujarat Gaurav Mahasammelan is underway in Gandhinagar

4.35 pm: Ahead of Modi’s rally, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi took potshots at the prime minister, saying that rhetoric will rain down on poll-bound Gujarat. His comments come amid speculation that PM Modi may announce a slew of sops for the poll-bound state. READ MORE

4.20 pm: PM Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah have arrived at Gujarat Gaurav Mahasammelan in Gandhinagar.

Gujarat Gaurav Mahasammelan comes after the successful culmination of the 2 Gujarat Gaurav Yatras. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 15, 2017

Gujarat Gaurav Yatras covered almost 4500 kms & 149 Assembly seats. People of all age groups & from all sections of society joined the Yatra — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 15, 2017

Gujarat Gaurav Yatras showcased the spirit of Jan Shakti & reflected Gujarat’s strong faith in politics of development & good governance. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 15, 2017

I bow to the people of Gujarat for blessing BJP for decades. We will always fulfil the dreams of every Gujarati with full strength & vigour — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 15, 2017

The event being held at Bhat village near Gandhinagar is likely to see attendees like Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Amit Shah and others.

Slug-fest over poll dates has started as Congress blamed the BJP for pressuring the Election Commission into delaying the announcement of schedule. The EC has, however, denied the claim.

PM Modi’s visits to Gujarat have been more frequent in the run up to the elections. On a two-day visit last week, he visited and inaugurated several projects in Gandhinagar, Bharat, Rajkot and his hometown Vadnagar. Mid last month he visited the state along with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to lay the foundation stone of the bullet train project.

Meanwhile, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has launched the party’s election campaign in the state holding rallies and road shows. The BJP has ruled Gujarat since March 1995 barring a brief period between September 1996 to March 1998 which saw President’s rule and then a Rashtriya Janata Party government.

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