Kick-starting the 2007 Gujarat election campaign, Chief Minister Narendra Modi once again evoked Hindu sentiments.
The festival begins on Uttarayana, the day when winter starts turning into summer, and will conclude on Makar Sankranti.
While the BJP is trying to dwell on the twin issues of development and national security to project Modi as a super administrator and a hardline Hindu leader, to the surprise of many, the Congress is not shying away from issues either -- perhaps for the first time
Even as Tauktae's intensity weakened, it left behind a trail of destruction with as many as 13 people losing their lives in different parts of Gujarat, including Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Patan, Amreli and Valsad, officials said.
The independents also scored big in some seats.
The counting will begin at 8 am, and as per the Election Commission's COVID-19 guidelines, a candidate, his poll agent and counting agent can remain present in the counting hall, officials said, adding various measures have been taken to ensure social distancing and avoid crowding.
Modi did not speak much about politics but made a reference to the agitation by the Patels for quotas.
The cyclone would bring light to moderate rains at most places and 'heavy to very heavy downpour' at some places on November 6.
Patel community leader Hardik Patel was arrested in Surat tonight for defying prohibitory orders clamped ahead of his 'Ekta March' for reservation under OBC quota but was freed on bail by a court soon afterwards.
Gandhi said for the first time he has seen that all sections of the society in the state were 'protesting', whether it was the Patidars, Dalits, anganwadi workers or farmers.
'You will see how tears again flow from the eyes of this actor 2-3 days before the elections,' he said.
This classification of districts is to be followed by states and union terrotories till a week post May 3, when the second phase of lockdown will end, for containment operations.
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