New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is on a two-day visit to Gujarat from Monday, said under the leadership of PM Modi, the government is stressing on strengthening the health and medical infrastructure in the country. "India was on the 11th position in the World when it came to being the largest economy. After Narendra Modi became the PM, he brought it to the 5th position. Congress had brought it from 11th to 12th position," he said as quoted by news agency ANI.






"PM Modi has taken India to such a position where any important decision cannot be taken without hearing to what India has to say," shah added.


The former state minister is on a two-day visit as political activities intensify due to assembly elections slated to be held later this year.


Shah laid the foundation stone of a 350 bedded, upgradable up to 500 beds, ESIC Hospital in Sanand, Gujarat, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement on Monday.






“Construction of the hospital spread over 9.5 acres would entail an expenditure of ₹500 crore," the ministry said.


This visit comes after Shah was in Bihar for the first time since the alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal-United ended leading to the Mahagathbandhan rule.


The tenures of the Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat assemblies will end on January 8, 2023, and February 23, 2023, respectively and the poll authority can hold elections anytime within six months of the expiry of the five-year term of any House.


On Monday, CEC Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey are likely to visit Gujarat to take stock of the preparedness, as per news agency PTI.


In 2017, Himachal Pradesh went to polls on November 9, while Gujarat exercised its franchise in two phases -- December 9 and 14.


The BJP has been in power in Gujarat since 1998 and the main opposition Congress came close to defeating it in the previous assembly elections in 2017.


While the Congress is gearing up to challenge the BJP in both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, the AAP is also trying to get a foothold in both states.