Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended the campaign for the second phase of Gujarat assembly polls in style today as he took a seaplane ride from the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam in north Gujarat and returned after offering prayers at the famous Ambaji Temple.
He boarded the single-engine seaplane from near the Sardar Bridge connecting the old city with Ahmedabad West and flew to Dharoi Dam in Mehsana district.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani claimed this was the first time a seaplane landed on a water body in the country.
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A special floating platform was constructed on the river to facilitate the prime minister board the plane.
The plane took off from the Sardar Bridge-end amid chants of "Modi-Modi" from BJP workers and city-dwellers, who flocked to the Sabarmati riverfront.
After his plane landed on the water of Dharoi dam, the prime minister proceeded to the Ambaji Temple in Banaskantha district via road.
From Dharoi dam site, he reached the temple by road after covering a distance of around 50km. He was greeted by the people of Ambaji town during a roadshow that stretched from the outskirts of the temple town till near the shrine.
A large number of locals lined up on both sides of the road leading to the famous shrine to have a glimpse of Modi, who reciprocated by waving at them.
At the temple, Modi performed 'puja' of Goddess Amba Mata and took blessings from priests. He spent almost 15 minutes at the temple.
From the temple, he arrived at the Dharoi dam site and boarded the seaplane for a return journey to the Sabarmati River.
A large number of common people and BJP workers gathered on the Sabarmati riverfront to greet the prime minister upon his arrival.
Yesterday, Modi told an election rally that for the first time in the history of the country a seaplane would land on the Sabarmati river.
"I will go to Ambaji in the seaplane after landing in Dharoi dam and come back," he said.
He said the BJP had planned a roadshow today in Ahmedabad. "However, the administration didn't give permission (for the event). As I had time, I decided to go to Ambaji in the seaplane," Modi said.
"We cannot have airports everywhere, so our government has planned to have these seaplanes," he said.
Rupani yesterday said this would for the first time in the country's history that a seaplane would land on a water body and that would be the Sabarmati river.
The campaigning for the second and final phase of voting which will take place on December 14, covering the remaining 93 assembly seats, ended this evening.
The first phase of polling, covering 89 seats, took place on December 9. The results will be declared on December 18. Gujarat has a 182-member assembly.
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