State Congress ropes in central minister Sachin Pilot for campaign

While Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as star campaigner of BJP in forthcoming Panchayat and Nagarpalika polls in Gujarat, the Congress party today fielded central minister of state Shri Sachin Pilot in election campaign.

Minister of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot’s public meetings were held in three villages of north Gujarat’s Mahesana districts. The villages are:Savala, Gojharia and Mandali.

Pilot is only central leader to address campaign meetings of scheduled local polls in the state. Barring Pilot’s visit, the state Congress has mostly relied on local party leaders during the campaign.

In his campaign rallies Sachin Pilot said that centre has given hefty grants to Gujarat for development but the state has failed to properly implement schemes like MGNREGS.

“Hefty grants have been given to all the state governments by the centre, including that of Gujarat for implementing various developmental schemes,” Pilot said addressing a poll rally in Gojarai village of Mehasana district.

He further alleged that the BJP government led by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has not built canals for the Naramada Dam project despite the Centre giving assistance of Rs 7,000 crore and thereby depriving farmers of irrigation waters.

Pilot further said that the Congress had given rights to villages under Panchayati Raj scheme but the state has put curbs on those rights.

For campaign of six Municipal Corporation polls, the party had roped in central leaders including minister Jaipal Reddy, and Rajasthan Chief Minister. The party had also arranged road shows of filmy heroins in all poll-bound cities. However this paid nothing and the party lost the elections very badly.

Campaign for state wide District Panchayat, Taluka Panchayat and Nagarpalika will end on Tuesday at 5.00 pm. Polls are scheduled on 21st of October. The result will be out on 23rd.