Friday, 8 December, saw heavy-duty campaigning for phase 2 of the Gujarat assembly elections, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding rallies in Banaskantha's Bhabhar, Kalol, Vatva in Ahmedabad, and Himatnagar in Sabarkantha. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressed election rallies in Pavi Jetpur, Ramesar and Loteshwar Bhagol.
Gujarat will vote in the first phase of the Assembly elections on 9 December. The second phase of elections will be held on 14 December.
- Narendra Modi addressed rallies in Banaskantha’s Bhabhar, Kalol, Vatva in Ahmedabad, and Himatnagar in Sabarkantha today
- Rahul Gandhi addressed election rallies in Jetpur Pavi, Ramesar and Loteshwar Bhagol today
- PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi simultaneously raked up the suspension of Mani Shankar Aiyar at their respective rallies in Gujarat
- “They did not call me ‘neech’ for the first time yesterday. Sonia Gandhi and her family members have used it too,” Modi said at a rally in Nikol, Ahmedabad
- Finance Minister Arun Jaitley released BJP’s manifesto - titled ‘Sankalp Patra’ - on Friday, 8 December, a day before the first phase of polling in Gujarat
- Both parties concluded campaigning for the first phase of elections on 7 December
'They've Called me a Mad Dog, Virus': Modi Accuses Cong Leaders of Using Offensive Language
At the rally in Nikol, Modi tore into the Congress, accusing its leaders of using offensive language against him.
What did Anand Sharma say - PM Modi is mentally unstable. A Congress leader retweeted such an offensive tweet about me that I cannot even say it. What did Digvijaya Singh tweet about me? Evidently, one Gujarati, a person born into a poor family has troubled them a lot.PM Modi
Modi went on to narrate how he was called "monkey", a "mad dog", a "virus", and compared to bhasmasur by leaders such as Jairam Ramesh, Beni Prasad Verma and Renuka Chowdhury.
...Ghulam Nabi Azad said I am Gangu Teli. Are these the kind of things we should say in public life? Imran Masood, who they gave a ticket to, said we will cut Modi into pieces. Renuka Chowdhury called me a virus. She said I bring ‘Namonitis’. I don’t even want to get started on what Gujarat Congress leaders have been calling me.PM Modi
The Quint's Ground Coverage From Modi's Rally in Ahmedabad
PM Modi's rally in Nikol, Ahmedabad for the second phase of Gujarat polls saw a massive turnout.
Watch these people belonging to the Patidar community below criticising Hardik Patel, as well as praising the BJP for its work.
Not Called Neech For The First Time, Sonia Gandhi & Family Members Have Used it Too: Modi
Addressing a rally in Ahmedabad’s Nikol constituency, PM Modi once again brought up the “neech aadmi” remark made by Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, saying that the term has been used against him by Sonia Gandhi and her family members too.
They did not call me ‘neech’ for the first time yesterday. Sonia Gandhi and her family members have used it too. Why am I ‘neech’ - because I was born poor, because I am of a lower caste, because I am a Gujarati? Is that why they hate me?PM Modi
Kickstarting his rally, Modi had said:
After travelling across Saurashtra, Kutch, south Gujarat and north Gujarat, I am now in Ahmedabad. What I am seeing is extraordinary. It is clear that the BJP will emerge victorious.PM Modi
He also asserted that the strength of the middle class is rising along with its population. "This section of society aspires to progress at a quick pace."
Further stressing on BJP's economic growth agenda, Modi said:
Why should it be that only malls can remain open for a long duration? We ensured that the small shops can also be open for long. This gives opportunities to several people.PM Modi
Watch: Rahul Gandhi Visits a local Pav Bhaaji Stall in Tarapur, Gujarat
Rahul Gandhi visited a local pav bhaaji stall in Anand’s Tarapur on Friday in between addressing rallies in Gujarat for phase 2 of the assembly elections.
