Modi takes off in seaplane to wrap up Gujarat campaign

One media report said this is one of the first-ever flights by such an aircraft in India.

From Dharoi dam he would travel about 180 km by road to famous Ambaji Temple in North Gujarat for campaign. The region is going to the polls on Thursday.

After the first phase of polls in Saurashtra and South Gujarat last Saturday, BJP is going all out to focus in North Gujarat as one of the bitterest war of words between BJP and Congress played out.

Earlier, Modi's roadshow in Ahmedabad was denied permission owing to traffic situation. Media reports said roadshows of both the PM and Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi were denied permission for the same reason.

Reports said Rahul Gandhi will hold a press conference in Ahmedabad to end his campaign.

While Modi is showcasing the development work in Gujarat to seek a fifth consecutive win for the BJP in Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi's Congress is citing the same model of development as a failure in the high profile Gujarat poll campaign.

The Gujarat campaign witnessed big accusations from both sides with even the issue of Pakistan's intervention drawn in.

PM Modi alleged a Pakistan hand in Gujarat claiming that Congress leaders, including former PM Dr Manmohan Singh, discussed the state polls with Pakistani guests at a dinner hosted by now suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar. 

Manmohan Singh later said he was "deeply pained and anguished" by the "falsehood and canards being spread to score political points by none less than Prime Minister Narendra Modi". He also demanded an apology from the PM.

Gujarat, which is undergoing a two phase assembly election, witnessed 66.75% turnout in the first phase. The second and final phase for the remaining 93 seats will be held on Dec 14. In the first phase, 89 Assembly seats went to polls.

The votes will be counted on December 18.

Image: Twitter/bjp4india