From Pakistan to Taiwan - 'Foreign factors' in Gujarat poll campaign

PM Narendra Modi alleged that his predecessor Manmohan Singh was conspiring with Pakistan for the BJP's defeat in Gujarat.

AHMEDABAD: Elections are over and the results of the much-awaited Gujarat assembly polls will be declared on Monday.

The Gujarat elections witnessed hectic campaigning by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress leaders raked up several issues to hit out at each other and reach out to the voters.

This time even foreign factors were raised by the party leaders to slam their opponents.

One such example was when BJP star campaigner Narendra Modi alleged that his predecessor Manmohan Singh was conspiring with Pakistan for the BJP's defeat in Gujarat.

Modi, while speaking at a poll rally in Gujarat on December 10, had sought to link the dinner meeting hosted by Mani Shankar Aiyar for Pakistani dignitaries and attended by Manmohan Singh, among others, with the ongoing Assembly polls and a conspiracy against the BJP.

The BJP leader claimed that some Pakistani officials and Manmohan Singh met at Aiyar's house over dinner on December 6. This was a day before Aiyar's "neech" jibe against Modi that led to his suspension from the party.

Later Singh issued a statement, listing those who attended the dinner, and stressed that the election was not discussed during the meeting. “I reject the innuendos and falsehoods as I did not discuss Gujarat elections with anyone else at the dinner hosted by Mani Shankar Aiyar as alleged by Modi.

“I sincerely hope that he will apologize to the Nation for his ill thought transgression to restore the dignity of the office he occupies,” Singh said in the statement.

Another incident which made the headlines was OBC leader and Congress candidate Alpesh Thakor's 'Modi eats Taiwanese mushrooms' statement.

At an election rally, Thakore claimed that the complexion of the Prime Minister has turned fair because he eats mushrooms imported from Taiwan that costs Rs 80,000 per piece.

Speaking at a rally in Gujarat, Thakor said, "Someone told me that what Modi ji eats, you can't eat because it's not poor people's food. So I asked what such food does he eat? He said he eats mushrooms. I asked what was wrong in that, mushrooms are widely available. He said that he doesn't like the ones we eat, the ones he eats are from Taiwan and the cost of one mushroom is Rs 80,000. He eats five of them every day."

Thakor was trolled on Twitter with hilarious memes for 'PM Modi eats Taiwanese mushrooms' remark.