Keshubhai's speeches centre on development

Former Gujarat chief minister and senior BJP leader Keshubhai Patel on Monday campaigned in the Patel-dominated villages of Jamnagar constituency.

During his whirlwind tour of this district, he indicated that the alleged differences between him and chief minister Narendra Modi have been set aside and he is committed to keep intact the BJP's strong base in the Saurashtra-Kutch region.

He said BJP has taken up the task of winning all the 26 seats in the state in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

Patel said his 60 meetings in 12 districts have evoked overwhelming public response and people of the state will vote BJP to power.

"This is a parliament election. Issues related to the state should not figure in it. The Centre has made timely payment of crop insurance and priority has been given to rural development," Patel said.

Patel spoke at public meetings in various villages of Dhrol, Kalavad, sadodar and Jam jodhpur talukas.

However, he did not refer to the issue of Congress president Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin. His speeches focused on rural and village development programmes.

Earlier, he campaigned in Morvi and Tankara talukas of Rajkot district.

Jamnagar district has been benefited by the check dams scheme initiated by Patel. Modi had addressed a huge public meeting at Jamnagar on Friday. He will also address meetings at Khambhalia and Bhanvad. The state leadership of BJP has planned to bring its lead campaigners to the district following reports that BJP's position here is weak.