Gujarat elections: Narendra Modi files nomination papers

Addressing his supporters, Modi challenged the Congress to prove what they have done for Gujarat. The CM alleged that the opposition party was trying to sabotage the developmental projects.

“We will fight the elections on the basis of development and not on the basis of vote bank politics,” he declared.
 

  Congress fields IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatts wife against Modi

Shweta Bhatt, the wife of suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt will contest the Assembly elections on a Congress ticket against Narendra Modi from Maninagar constituency in Ahmedabad.

She will file her nomination papers on Friday."Yes, I will be fighting against Modi from Maninagar on a Congress ticket," Shweta Bhatt said.

 "We have moved far away from democracy in Gujarat and to restore it, everyone has to do whatever they can. Fighting election against Modi is the logical step in our quest for democracy and to curb anti-democratic forces," she said.

Today is the last day of filing of nomination papers for the second phase of polls.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi  who is looking  for a hattrick in Gujarat ,won from Maninagar in 2007 by a huge margin, defeating the Congress candidate.

"Shweta Bhatt has been fielded by the party against Modi," a Gujarat Congress leader said.There are reports that Mrs  Bhatthave already started her campaign against Mr Modi,


The state goes to polls in two phases - December 13 and 17. The votes will be counted on December 20.

 Sanjiv Bhatt, in an affidavit in the Supreme Court last year, had alleged complicity on the part of Modi in the 2002 riots. He also deposed against Modi before the Nanavati Commission, probing the riots.

 Bhatt, who was the Principal, SRP Training School, was later suspended by the state government.

Sanjiv Bhatt is facing charges of coercing his official driver to make a false statement in connection with the alleged inaction of the Narendra Modi government during the 2002 riots in the state.
 

Bhatt was suspended after he accused Modi of asking the police to go slow on Hindus during the 2002 riots in which 1,200 people were killed.Bhatt has pleaded that the case against him was fabricated and was a consequence of political vendetta.

He had told the Supreme Court in an an affidavit that Modi had allowed "communal riots in Gujarat as he wanted Hindus to vent out their anger against the minority community following killings of Kar sevaks in Sabarmati Express near Godhara railway station."