Union Home Minister Amit Shah filed his nomination papers on Friday for the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, where he is the BJP's candidate, emphasising that the upcoming general election is pivotal for securing a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to PTI, accompanied by Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, Shah submitted his nomination papers to Gandhinagar collector and district election officer M K Dave in the state capital at precisely 12:39 pm, considered auspicious as 'Vijay Muhurat'.
Addressing reporters, Shah underscored the significance of this election in ensuring a third term for PM Modi, stressing the vision to transform India into a developed nation by 2047.
Congress hit out at Amit Shah questioning the presence of more than five people with the Union Minister during the nomination.
"When Congress nominated I.N.D.I.A Candidates Ramakant Khalap and Capt. Viriato Fernandes filed their nominations on Shree Ram Navami Days, 5 persons including Candidates were allowed by the Chief Electoral Office of Goa. How ECI through the Chief Electoral Officer of Gujarat allowed more than 5 persons with Amit Shah? Straight Favouratism!" Goa Congress wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Amit Shah stated that the third term of Modi will be important because his first two terms passed into fixing the mistakes made by the former Congress-led UPA government. "This election is all about making Narendra Modi our PM for the third time. Modiji has resolved to turn India into a developed country by 2047 and number one in all sectors. The next five years are crucial if we want to achieve that because the last 10 years went into filling pits (gadde) made by the previous UPA government," Shah said, PTI reported.
He emphasised the forthcoming five years as foundational for the progress towards 'Viksit Bharat'.
Expressing gratitude to the BJP for nominating him from the seat previously held by stalwarts Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani, Shah highlighted the seat's significance as PM Modi's registered constituency. "I have been associated with this seat for the last 30 years. Before becoming an MP, I was an MLA from assembly segments that fall under this seat. Thanks to your love, I rose from a humble booth worker to becoming a member of parliament now. People of Gandhinagar gave me their blessings whenever I sought their votes," he also said.
Shah's Roadshows In Gandhinagar
Shah outlined developmental projects worth over Rs 22,000 crore undertaken in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency over the past five years.
The former BJP president secured victory from the Gandhinagar constituency by a margin exceeding 5 lakh votes in the 2019 general elections. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress has nominated party secretary Sonal Patel for the Gandhinagar seat.
Voting for all 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat is scheduled for the third phase on May 7.
Shah on Thursday held three back-to-back roadshows covering nearly 20 km in Gandhinagar amid much fanfare.