Vadnagar fields two sons of soil for Gujarat assembly polls

Palanpur, Nov 27 (UNI) Vadnagar, a tiny taluka place in Mehsana district of Gujarat, is popular for its ancient monuments and for being Chief Minister Narendra Modi's hometown.

The town has fielded two sons of the soil -- Mr Modi from Maninagar and Govindbhai Prajapati who has filed his nomination as BJP candidate from Palanpur. Technically, both Mr Modi and Mr Prajapati are outsiders. While Maninagar is not a home turf of Mr Modi, Palanpur is a less known place for the latter. The two leaders who are of the same age group, were playmates during the young age.

Mr Prajapati was born in the same year as Mr Modi in 1952 at Vadnagar. Both he and Mr Modi joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Mr Prajapati came to Palanpur after qutting his job from Subordinate Services Selection Board, Gandhinagar.

He tells the people ''I have come from Gandhinagar and I hope you will send me back to Gandhinagar.'' The same is the story with Mr Modi who, too, is wooing the voters of Maninagar to keep him in Gandhinagar albeit to help him retain Chief Minister's chair. Only difference is that Mr Prajapati faces a tough task of winning the elections.

UNI