Rahul Gandhi campaigns in north Gujarat, offers prayer at Akshardham temple

Gandhinagar: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday began his campaign for Assembly polls in north Gujarat with a visit to the famous Akshardham temple here.

Akshardham temple belongs to the Swaminarayan sect, which has a huge following among the Patel community, and the Congress is trying to woo the community ahead of the Assembly election to be held in two phases on December 9 and December 14.

Gandhi arrived here this morning and went to the Akshardham temple. He offered prayers to Lord Swaminarayan at the temple and began his three-day tour which will cover six districts.

The BJP criticised the move, saying Gandhi was visiting Hindu temples just ahead of elections to get votes.

"Why Rahul Gandhi is only visiting temple ahead of elections. People know their intentions that they want to get votes by such gimmicks. They have no inclination of devotion as during Rahul Gandhi's earlier trip he never visited any temple," Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said.

"We wish that Congress sheds its pseudo-secularism and respect mainstream Hindutva, but their gimmicks to get votes will not work in Gujarat," Patel said.

However, the Congress hit back, saying people will teach the BJP a lesson as it is opposing a visit to temple.

"Does anybody have patent on devotion? They are opposing a visit to the temple. People of Gujarat will teach them a lesson," Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil said.

"Rahul Gandhiji has visited Jain temple and Gurudwaras apart from Hindu temples. We believe in secularism," he said.

Gandhi is going to visit the famous Ambaji temple in Banaskantha district in north Gujarat this evening.

He had started his campaign in the western state with a visit to the renowned Dwarkadheesh temple.