Highlights

2.55 pm ISTCongress will destroy Gujarat’s composite culture, says PM Modi
2.29 pm ISTCongress hates me because of my poor origins, says PM Modi
2.26 pm ISTCongress insulted Sardar Patel, ignored Morarji Desai
2.23 pm ISTCongress has defamed Gujarat, says PM Modi
2.17 pm ISTPM Modi slams Congress style of politics
2.11 pm ISTPM Modi is addressing election rally in Rajkot’s Jasdan
1.27 pm ISTPM Modi to address more election rallies today
1.23 pm ISTCM Vijay Rupani on Hardik Patel and the Patidar agitation, Rahul Gandhi, and other issues
12.59 pm ISTBJP releases 6th and final list of 34 candidates
12.33 pm ISTGujarat election is contest between development and dynasty
12.31 pm ISTGujarat is my soul, says PM Modi
12.29 pm ISTPM Modi questions Congress’ stand on Doklam
12.27 pm ISTCongress is unhappy about demonetisation, says PM Modi in Bhuj
12.22 pm ISTPM Modi is in Bhuj, Kutch today
12.16 pm ISTPM Modi in Bhuj: Congress insulted Sardar Patel
12.13 pm ISTJignesh Mevani to contest as Independent with Congress’ support
12.05 pm ISTPM Narendra Modi addresses a rally in Bhuj, Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today address public rallies in Bhuj, Kutch and will later have other rallies in Jasdan, Dhari and Kamrej. File photo: PTI

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is spearheading Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) poll campaign in Gujarat assembly election 2017 with a series of public rallies on Monday. PM Modi will start with a public rally in Bhuj, Kutch and will later have other rallies in Jasdan, Dhari and Kamrej and on Wednesday in Saurashtra and South Gujarat, which go to the polls on 9 December. Earlier, Modi first visited Mata no Madh in Kutch and sought the blessings of Ashapura Mata. The elections to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases on 9 and 14 December. The counting of votes will be on 18 December. Here are the latest updates and developments:
2.55 pm ISTCongress will destroy Gujarat’s composite culture, says PM ModiPM Modi: “The solution to all problems is development. Development has to be continuous. We want to work even more for the people of Gujarat.” He further said, “Pitting one caste against the other is Congress’ tendency. Make sure that you do not let them destroy the composite culture of Gujarat.”
2.29 pm ISTCongress hates me because of my poor origins, says PM ModiPM Modi: “The Congress dislikes me because of my poor origins. Can a party stoop so low? Yes, a person belonging to a poor family has become PM. They do not fail to hide their contempt for this fact. Yes, I sold tea but I did not sell the nation.”
2.26 pm ISTCongress insulted Sardar Patel, ignored Morarji DesaiPM Modi says, “Congress has not just insulted Sardar Patel. Congress ignored Morarji Desai because he was from Gujarat. Congress has insulted all of Gujarat.”
2.23 pm ISTCongress has defamed Gujarat, says PM ModiPM Modi: “It was with the support of the Jan Sangh that a person from the Patel Community, Babubhai Patel became CM. Congress did not like this and ensured that Babubhai Jashbhai’s government did not last. When Keshubhai Patel, a son of Saurashtra became the CM the Congress tried everything to dislodge him. They repeated the same disruptive tactic with Anandiben Patel, a daughter of the Patel Community. Congress has defamed Gujarat always.”
2.17 pm ISTPM Modi slams Congress style of politics“There was a person who led a life of discipline on Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals, a disciplined & hard working son of the soil just like Sardar Patel but he had the same ‘flaw’ of being a Gujarati, so he was not allowed to stay in national politics by them (Congress): PM Modi says in Jasdan.“A new party came up in Delhi, whose style is to keep abusing & running away. I thought Congress, being an older party would not indulge in such politics but they have also taken this short cut in the past two months and only hurled abuses and lies.”
2.11 pm ISTPM Modi is addressing election rally in Rajkot’s JasdanPM Modi is now addressing a campaign rally in Rajkot’s Jasdan, which is the second public meeting of the day in the poll-bound state. He says, “When we started bringing the waters of the Narmada here to Saurashtra, there were people who were mocking us. Their negative politics has not changed over the years. Our faith is in politics of development and good governance.”
1.27 pm ISTPM Modi to address more election rallies todayPM Modi will have three more rallies in Jasdan town of Rajkot, Dhari in Amreli and Kamrej in Surat district today.
1.23 pm ISTCM Vijay Rupani on Hardik Patel and the Patidar agitation, Rahul Gandhi, and other issuesIn the high stakes Gujarat elections, chief minister Vijay Rupani, who took over in August last year, is facing one of the biggest political battles of his career. While his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set itself a target of a record 150-plus seats in the 182-seat assembly, the rival Congress is looking to give it a tough fight. In an interview, Rupani speaks about the Patidar agitation, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, and jobs, among other issues. Read more
12.59 pm ISTBJP releases 6th and final list of 34 candidatesThe BJP today released its final list of 34 candidates on the last day of filing of nominations for the second phase of the Gujarat polls, dropping five MLAs, including a minister and former chief minister Anandiben Patel. (PTI) Read moreEarlier, the Congress released its third list of 76 candidates for the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections, filing of nominations for which ends on Monday, on Sunday night. Read more
12.33 pm ISTGujarat election is contest between development and dynastyThe Gujarat election is a contest between trust on development and dynastic politics: PM Modi. (PTI)India was attacked on 26/11 and in Uri. You can see how India responded in the wake of both attacks. This explains the difference between their Government and ours, said PM Modi.
12.31 pm ISTGujarat is my soul, says PM Modi
गुजरात मेरी 'आत्मा' है और भारत मेरा 'परमात्मा'। गुजरात ने मुझे एक बच्चे की तरह पाला है और कांग्रेस ने हमेशा गुजरात के लिए वैर का भाव रखा है : पीएम मोदी #GujaratWithModi
— BJP (@BJP4India) November 27, 2017
12.29 pm ISTPM Modi questions Congress’ stand on DoklamWhen our soldiers were standing eye-to-eye in Dokalam for 70 days, why were you hugging the Chinese ambassador: PM Modi in Bhuj. (PTI)
12.27 pm ISTCongress is unhappy about demonetisation, says PM Modi in BhujCongress is unhappy about demonetisation. They keep attacking me but I want to tell them...I have grown up in the same land as Sardar Patel. I will ensure that the poor get their due. We will not allow this nation to be looted. (ANI)
12.22 pm ISTPM Modi is in Bhuj, Kutch today
Kutch has overwhelmed me with affection. It is indeed special to be here. pic.twitter.com/eeeC6CkQRI
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 27, 2017
12.16 pm ISTPM Modi in Bhuj: Congress insulted Sardar Patel■ Congress had insulted Sardar Patel, people of Gujarat still forgave them but they will no longer tolerate any attack on their prestige. (ANI)
12.13 pm ISTJignesh Mevani to contest as Independent with Congress’ supportDalit leader Jignesh Mevani today announced his decision to contest the Gujarat polls from the Vadagam (SC) seat of Banaskantha district as an Independent candidate with outside support of the Congress. The moves comes after sitting MLA Manibhai Vaghela said the state Congress asked him not to contest the polls from the seat “as a part of an agreement” with Mevani. (PTI)
12.05 pm ISTPM Narendra Modi addresses a rally in Bhuj, GujaratPM Narendra Modi is addressing a rally in Bhuj, Gujarat. Bhuj, a BJP stronghold, has 33% Muslim voters and has witnessed some of the most polarised elections in the past, according to NDTV. Here are the highlights of his address:■ PM Narendra Modi says Gujarat election is contest between trust on development and dynastic politics. (PTI) ■ It was the Congress which killed youngsters who were associated with the Maha Gujarat Movement.■ After the Kutch earthquake, Atalji asked me to go to Gujarat. I spent considerable time in Kutch and learnt what administration is about.■ They are coming to Gujarat and spreading lies about a son of Gujarat. Earlier they did that with Sardar Patel also. Gujarat will never accept this. No Gujarati will accept the lies that they are spreading.