Is 'Gujarat model of development' a failure? Rahul Gandhi thinks so

On Monday, Rahul Gandhi during a Congress event in Gujarat criticised PM Narendra Modi and the BJP.

Ahmedabad, Sep 5: Going by the political activities in Gujarat, the election season in the poll-bound state seems to have already kick-started. The Assembly elections in the state are likely to take place in December, but political parties, including the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, are already in campaigning mood to woo voters.

On Monday, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was in the Sabarmati suburb of Ahmedabad, where he attended an event named "Samvad" (dialogue), hosted at the Sabarmati riverfront -- a waterfront on the banks of the Sabarmati river.

The programme of the Gandhi scion was touted as an outreach programme for the party workers. In a way, the Congress, the main opposition party in the state, kick-started its campaign for the Assembly elections with Rahul's Samvad.

During the programme, Rahul interacted with the party workers and answered questions sent to him in advance by them. As usual the Congress VP targeted the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said the ruling BJP and Modi were "scared" of the outcome of the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls as their much-touted "model of development" in the state had "failed". Rahul exuded confidence that the Congress, in opposition in Gujarat for nearly two decades, would come to power after the polls.

"This time, I firmly believe no one can stop the Congress from forming the next government in Gujarat," the 47-year-old member of Parliament (MP) from Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, said.

The Congress leader said the Gujarat "model of development" stood thoroughly "exposed". "The BJP and the Prime Minister are scared of the outcome of the Gujarat Assembly polls. You cannot hide the truth for long. The hollowness of the BJP's Gujarat model of development has been exposed now," he said.

Rahul alleged the model had not helped anyone "be it the youth, farmers, small businessmen or shopkeepers". Only some 5-10 people benefited from it, the Congress VP said without taking names.

Attacking Modi, Rahul said his government was putting "undue pressure" on the media. "We know that Modiji is pressuring the media. Even some media persons have told me that they are scared," he claimed.

He asked his party workers to fight against the BJP at the booth level and expose the saffron outfit's "lies".

"You have so many issues for this election such as hardships being faced by farmers, demonetisation, Goods and Services Tax (GST) and unemployment. Our workers will fight against the BJP at the booth level and expose their lies," he said.

Now, it has to be seen how much Rahul's interaction with the party workers helped them to boost their morale before taking on the "mighty" BJP in Gujarat in the forthcoming polls.

OneIndia News