Gujarat campaign enters final round; PM Modi, Arvind Kejriwal in Surat

Surat: Candidates are putting up all of their effort to campaign with top names with only four days remaining in the first round of voting for the Gujarat Assembly elections. Arvind Kejriwal, the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to visit Surat today. Surat sends 12 legislators to the state's 182-member Assembly and will hold its first-phase vote on December 1.

Textile and diamond traders, as well as thousands of others connected to the industries in the business area, have always supported the ruling BJP in Surat.

According to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), PM Modi will speak to the public at Mota Varachha in Surat following a 25-kilometre road display from the airport to the rally location.

The PM will also speak at rallies in the Bharuch district's Netrang and the Kheda district's Mehmedabad.

Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, will hold town hall meetings with representatives of the textile and gem industries during a two-day visit to Surat. He will also give a speech to the general public at Yogi Chowk.

According to AAP, Mr Kejriwal would also host a roadshow in Katargam.

"Within Gujarat, Surat has today become the epicentre of AAP. The Surat Municipal Corporation is today the largest civic body in Gujarat. As per our internal survey, the AAP is leading in all 12 seats with more vote share than the BJP," state AAP general secretary Manoj Sorathiya has claimed to add that his party was receiving backing from persons connected to the diamond and textile sectors, NDTV reported.

Gopal Italia, the state unit president of the AAP, is running from Katargam, along with former PAAS leaders Alpesh Kathiriya and Dharmik Malaviya, who are running from Varaccha Road and Olpad, respectively.

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which would abolish regulations based on religion, will be "completely implemented" in the state, according to the BJP's election manifesto, which was issued on Saturday. Additionally, it has committed to creating 20 lakh employment and establishing an "anti-radicalization cell" to combat "anti-national elements."

AAP has received a lot of "hype," but according to Congress, which has previously been the main opponent of the BJP in the state, it will only be a "marginal player."

As there is a very "strong undercurrent" of anti-incumbency against the state government, the grand old party is running a highly localised, individualised, and traditional campaign, according to Congress leader Milind Deora, who is the party's observer for the Gujarat elections.

Votes will be counted on December 8 after the second round of voting, which takes place on December 5.