The crucial second and last phase of Gujarat assembly elections is being held on Monday. Late on Sunday, the Congress candidate from Danta in North Gujarat Kantilal Khardi went missing for several hours after he was allegedly attacked by goons.
Kharadi, on Sunday, fearing an attack, had sought additional police protection.
Kharadi has been found, more details are awaited. Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia is set to brief the media at 9.30 am on the issue.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted on Twitter about the attack. He wrote that Congress will not be afraid.
The Congress has alleged that BJP is behind the attack.
Danta (ST) is a seat that the ruling BJP has not been able to win for 24 years. The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for 27 years.
Ahead of the second phase of elections, the ruling BJP appealed to the voters to vote for Gujarati pride and the Congress has asked the voters to think before voting and, has said that change is the only alternative.
Political parties, including the ruling BJP, have been worried about the low voter turnout in the first phase and are trying hard to ensure a higher turnout. The Election Commission of India too had issued an appeal to the voters to come out in large numbers after the first phase of elections on December 1 witnessed 63.14 per cent as against 66.75 per cent in 2017 in the same assembly segments.
Arvind Kejriwal took to social media appealing people to vote. He said to vote for the progress of Gujarat and observed that such an opportunity has come after decades. Modi has asked people, especially youngsters and women, to vote in large numbers.
Votes for 89 out of the 182 assembly segments were cast on December 1. Polls for the remaining 93 seats are being held on Monday.
Among notable faces in the fray in the second phase from the BJP include Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel, OBC leader Alpesh Thakor and, Patidar leader and recent Congress turncoat Hardik Patel. From Congress, all eyes will be on Vadgam seat from where Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani is contesting.
Gujarat is witnessing a three-cornered contest for the first time in the real sense as the BJP, the opposition Congress and new entrant Aam Aadmi Party are fighting it out.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will vote in Ahmedabad. Rajya Sabha members from the Congress Shaktisinh Gohil and Amee Yagnik too will vote.
After the low polling in the first phase, Modi held back to back two road shows in Ahmedabad. The first roadshow began minutes after the polling for the first phase ended.
The BJP, which has a hold in urban pockets is a bit jittery with the presence of the AAP and its increasing influence in urban poor pockets.
