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Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday filed his nomination papers from Maninagar constituency in Ahmedabad for the assembly elections.The Congress has fielded Shweta Bhatt, wife of suspended Indian Police Service officer Sanjiv Bhatt against Modi.
While addressing party workers at Maninagar before filing his papers, Modi without taking any names, alleged that the Congress had entered in backroom deal with Keshubhai Patel's Gujarat Parivartan Party by not fielding any candidate from Visavadar constituency, where Patel is contesting. "They do not have the guts to say that they have an understanding with some other party, that they have made some arrangements behind the scene," Modi alleged.
Gujarat Congress candidate for Visavadar, Ratibhai Mangroliya, had claimed that his mandate -- the document that certifies the candidate officially represents the party -- was allegedly "stolen" by a 12-year-old while he was on his way to file his nomination papers.
"Congress workers were shedding tears that their mandate was stolen by a 12-year-old boy in Visavadar. The 12-year-old boy knew what is good for Gujarat," Modi said ridiculing the Congress's claim.
"Why are they not declaring that they have decided to make Ahmed Patel the chief minister of Gujarat? Why all these games behind the scenes? They should declare all these things," Modi said, targeting the political secretary of Congress president Sonia Gandhi for backroom deals.
Modi, seeking a fourth consecutive term, attacked the Congress, saying the Opposition party was "spreading lies" about Gujarat by issuing wrong advertisements.
"Congress leaders are editing speeches of their senior national leaders so as not to give Modi a chance to attack the party. When you speak from your heart, you don't need to write speeches. The Congress is busy spreading lies about Gujarat's development through advertisements," the BJP stalwart said, adding that the Congress was stumped when he addressed election rallies at multiple venues through 3D technology.
Stating that the assembly elections will be fought on the development plank, Modi claimed that the BJP government had taken Gujarat to newer heights and its development politics will triumph in the polls.
"The Congress has spent crores of rupees in campaigning, which they have earned through scams. But, the Congress has failed to understand that Gujaratis can't be bought," he said.
Holding that the Congress is a personality-driven organisation which depends on one family to run its affairs, Modi said in contrast the BJP is a party of workers and has a strong cadre which works for welfare of the poor.
Claiming that the result of the next month's election will be "historic", the three-time CM said that the Congress had only survived on vote-bank politics and they should tell the people of Gujarat what they have done for the country.
The Centre is afraid that BJP's thrust on development will translate into votes and that is why, they are not giving sanction for projects in the state on time, Modi said.
The BJP leader said he had tried to steer Gujarat's ship in the direction of vikas (development), vishwas (trust) and vijay (victory).