Narendra Modi on hectic campaign tour for panchayat polls

The BJP after its huge victory in the six municipal corporations in the state, is once again solely depending on chief minister Narendra Modi to help it sail through the panchayat polls scheduled on October 21.

In the last five days, Modi has addressed 19 meetings in north and central Gujarat. His campaign schedule covers most of the 24 districts which are going to the polls. Of the 24, Congress rules in only 6 district panchayats.

Modi is not only focusing on the issue of development but also talking about Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Sohrabuddin fake encounter case and corruption in the Commonwealth Games. Sources said ever since the party high command decided to keep Modi out of campaign for Bihar polls, the chief minister is keeping himself busy with the state elections.

Sources said during the municipal corporation elections, he addressed not less then three meetings daily between October 1 to October 9.

At his public meetings in Dohad, Godhra, Dabhoi, Vyara and other places in central and south Gujarat, Modi focused on issues related to misuse of central funds among others. He also talks of anti-farmer policy of the central government which is forcing farmers to commit suicide in other parts of the country.

Modi has addressed meetings in north Gujarat, central Gujarat, Saurashtra and south Gujarat. He also makes reference to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s statement that "When the centre sends Re 1 for a village, only 10 paise actually reaches the grass root."

In his campaign he also talks about the injustice being meted to the state in terms of revenue sharing. He says, "central government collects a revenue of Rs 50,000 crore from Gujarat, which is tax payers’ money and not the property of Congress government. However, when it comes to sharing of this money, the centre allocates funds as if it was doing some favour to the state."