Opposition has no authority to question EC: PM Modi in Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Gujarat on Sunday for the third time this month, addressed a public meeting at Vadadora after inaugurating a number of projects and laying foundation stones.

Taking a dig at Congress, PM Modi said that the "Opposition had no right to question the Election Commission, which has found itself in the eye of a controversy for its decision to hold back the dates of the Gujarat Assembly election."

On October 12, the EC had announced Assembly poll schedule for Himachal Pradesh but did not announce the dates for Gujarat, only saying that it would go to the polls before December 18.

This has been questioned by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, senior leader P Chidambaram and some others in the Congress party.

"Some of them (Opposition) are worried why Modi is coming to Gujarat after Diwali. They can't say anything to me, so they are targeting the Election Commission," the prime minister said and asked the gathering, "You tell me, should I not come to Vadodara?"

To hit out at the Congress, Modi referred to the recent Rajya Sabha polls from Gujarat in which Congress leader Ahmed Patel won by defeating BJP's Balwantsinh Rajput.

"In the recent election, votes were counted and TV channels were showing who is the victor, but they (Congress) did something after which a recount took place in which they won," Modi said.

"Those who won in the recount are now asking the Election Commission why Modi is going to Gujarat," he said.

"They do not have any moral right to ask this question to the Election Commission," Modi said.

The Congress has alleged that the NDA government had pressurised the EC to delay the announcement of Gujarat election schedule, so that the prime minister could offer sops to his home state before the model code of conduct came into force.

"EC has authorised PM to announce date of Gujarat elections at his last rally (and kindly keep EC informed)," said a sarcastic tweet by Chidambaram.

The prime minister proceeded to the airport with a roadshow across the city, passing through Alkapuri, Fatehgunj areas.

The 14 km stretch from Navlakhi ground to Vadodara airport was cordoned off for Narendra Modi's road show.

OneIndia News