At Rahul Gandhi’s Kheda Rally, Voters Say They’re Done With BJP

Why have supporters at Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Gujarat’s Kheda moved away from the BJP?

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi greets supporters at a rally in Gujarat on Sunday. 

(Photo Courtesy: @INCIndia/Twitter)

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of parking the development agenda aside, and focusing on himself during campaigning for the Gujarat polls.

Gandhi, who began his second day of campaigning for the second phase of polls after offering prayers at Lord Krishna's Ranchhod Raiji Mandir in Kheda, claimed that Modi frequently shifted his focus from key issues and now had nothing left to speak about.

The election is not about Modiji, nor is it about me. It is neither about the BJP nor the Congress. This election is about the future of the people of Gujarat.

Rahul Gandhi, Vice President, Congress

Those who came to watch Gandhi seemed to share some of his disdain over the Prime Minister. From an agrarian crisis to the failed idea of development, many said they’ve turned away from Modi and are now looking forward to Gandhi’s promises.

We have tried Narendra Modi. But now we want to give Rahul Gandhi a chance. Inflation has risen under PM Modi and GST has troubled us a lot as well. It doesn’t affect rich people much but the middle class suffers a lot.

Ritu, Voter

Gandhi accused the prime minister of not talking about his future plans for the state and keeping mum on the issue of "corruption."

He also questioned the the prime minister over his silence on the agitations by various communities, including Patels, Dalits, anganwadi workers, among others. Gandhi said the truth had caught up with the BJP and it could go nowhere from here.

He also asked Congress workers not to use "wrong words" against the prime minister and said his party will defeat him and the BJP with "love and sweet words".

The Congress leader attacked Modi over demonetisation and GST, saying the note ban helped all "thieves" convert their "black money into white" and the "Gabbar Singh Tax" destroyed small businesses and rendered one lakh people jobless.

Gandhi also raised the issue of BJP president Amit Shah's son Jay Shah's business dealings whereby he allegedly "converted Rs 50,000 into Rs 80 crore", and the controversy over the Rafale fighter jet deal.

Video Editor: Mohd Ibrahim