Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Gujarat today for a rally and to inaugurate an irrigation project in Saurashtra. The party will look forward to the election in the state next year, which, according to the experts, will be a tough task for BJP after the recent Patel agitation of reservation and Dalit protest after the Una incident.

Gujarat BJP has said that around 80,000 people are expected to gather for the Modi’s rally, which will set the tone for the party in Assembly election of 2017.

However, the opposition party, especially Congress, has called the inauguration of Saurashtra Narmada Avataran for Irrigation (SAUNI) project an election gimmick and a ‘lollipop for farmers’.

Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela has alleged, “Modi is known to make false and deceiving promises keeping in mind the elections. Ahead of 2012 polls in Gujarat, (Narendra) Modi, as Gujarat Chief Minister, had launched SAUNI project. Now, as the polls are approaching, he is coming here to inaugurate the project which is still incomplete. Inaugurating such a project is like a lollipop to farmers ahead of the polls.”

While answering to the allegation, BJP leader Rajubhai Dhruve said, “Narendrabhai had announced the project in September 2012 when he was the chief minister of Gujarat, and after four years the first phase of the project is to be inaugurated by him.”

“This would probably be the first project in the country to be announced and implemented within four years,” he added further.

Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani as well as the former CM Anandiben Patel, who resigned recently, will also be present at the function.

Reports said that SAUNI project will fill 115 dams in Saurashtra with waters of river Narmada through a network of pipelines. PM Modi will inaugurate the first phase for 10 dams in the region. The regions has been facing the problem of shortage of water for drinking and irrigation.

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By Prajakt K.