Ahmedabad, Nov 30: The Congress today sprang a surprise by fielding Shweta Bhatt, the wife of suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, to contest against chief minister Narendra Modi.
Soon after, Shweta Bhatt went to Maninagar to file her nomination and told mediapersons that her fight was "a battle for democracy".
“We have moved far away from democracy in Gujarat and to restore it, everyone has to do whatever they can. Fighting election against Modi is the logical step in our quest for democracy and to curb anti-democratic forces,” she said.
Sanjiv Bhatt, in an affidavit in the Supreme Court last year, had alleged complicity on the part of Modi in the 2002 riots.
He also deposed against Modi before the Nanavati Commission, probing the riots. Bhatt, who was the Principal, SRP Training School, was later suspended by the state government.
At 12:39 am, the "vijay mahurat" fixed by pandits, Chief Minsiter Narendra Modi went to submit his nomination from the same constituency. The "vijay mahurat" is said to be the time when Lord Rama killed the demon Ravana, said pandits.
Earlier, addressing a gathering of his supporters, Modi said, the Congress has lost its will to govern.
"Ours is a party of workers, and theirs is a family and coterie-ruled party. The electorate will now have to decide", said Modi.
At the time when Modi was addressing his supporters, senior BJP leaders led by L K Advani went and met the Chief Election Commissioner in Delhi to lodge a protest alleging that the Congress government at the Centre was violating the electoral Code of Conduct by announcing the Direct Cash Transfer scheme.
