Live: PM Narendra Modi uses sea-plane for campaigning, Rahul Gandhi says 'it's a distraction'

After landing at the Dharoi dam in Mehsana district, the PM proceeded by road to the revered Ambaji Temple and offered prayers there.

Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday arrived at the Sabarmati riverfront and boarded a sea-plane from where he proceeded to the Dharoi dam in Mehsana district.

After landing here, the PM proceeded by road to the revered Ambaji Temple and offered prayers there. The polls in north Gujarat will be held on Thursday. PM Modi will also end his month-long high-decibel campaign for Gujarat assembly elections by addressing a rally in Mehsana later today. Both the PM and Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi have been denied permission to hold roadshows in the poll-bound Gujarat, citing traffic situation.

Here are the live updates:-

12 December 2017

15:00 IST

Gujarat: PM Narendra Modi leaves from Dharoi Dam pic.twitter.com/ocTDxvgk2U

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017

13:46 IST

A video of BJP supporters waving at PM Narendra Modi as he travelled to Ambaji Temple in Banaskantha in Gujarat earlier today.

#WATCH Crowds wave at Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was on his way to Ambaji Temple in Banaskantha #Gujarat earlier today pic.twitter.com/4i3fvcipvT

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017

13:37 IST

Jahan mauka milta hai vahan mandir jaata hoon, Kedarnath bhi gaya tha, vo kya Gujarat mein hai?, says Rahul Gandhi on people linking his temple visits to Gujarat election 2017.

13:34 IST

Whatever decision we will make about Gujarat, it will only be done after talking to the people of Gujarat, after listening to their voices. No decision will be taken unilaterally, says Congress president 

13:33 IST

Whenever I went to a temple I just prayed for a 'Sunehra Bhavishya' for the people of Gujarat, a better development here. Is it wrong to go to a temple?: Rahul Gandhi

13:33 IST

In last 22 years, Modi Ji and Rupani ji have initiated only one-sided development here, the one only for 5-10 people. Not everyone has been given their rights: Rahul Gandhi 

13:31 IST

Congress president Rahul Gandhi addresses a press conference in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

#WATCH Live via ANI FB: Congress President Rahul Gandhi addresses a press conference in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. https://t.co/3mo97GEPcV pic.twitter.com/hydUcHwLsc

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017

13:26 IST

Here are some more visuals of PM Modi offering prayers at the Ambaji Temple in Gujarat.

More visuals from Ambaji Temple in #Gujarat's Banaskantha where PM Narendra Modi is offering prayers. pic.twitter.com/mxHvRuG9sK

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017

13:10 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at the Ambaji Temple in Banaskantha. 

#Gujarat: PM Narendra Modi offers prayers in Ambaji Temple in Banaskantha. pic.twitter.com/RcYxZQHBCV

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017

13:07 IST

PM Narendra Modi travels from Dharoi Dam to Ambaji by road.

#WATCH LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels to Ambaji in Banaskantha by road #GujaratElection2017 https://t.co/KrpqZLboDp

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017

12:00 IST

In pics: PM Narendra Modi reaches Dharoi Dam via a sea-plane.

#PMModi reaches Dharoi Dam in #seaplane

Read @ANI story | https://t.co/9Zgmo4Yx3Q pic.twitter.com/uSTfp3LBwU

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) December 12, 2017

11:57 IST

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari calls PM Modi travelling in a sea-plane a 'historic moment.'

''PM Narendra Modi travelled in a seaplane. It will be a huge revolution in the transport sector. India has huge potential. Also, as per the rules, a Prime Minister can choose any mode of transport. It has nothing to do with Gujarat Elections. If Rahul Gandhi wants to try it out, he can do so too. There is no politics in it," says Gadkari.

11:44 IST

PAAS leader Hardik Patel reacts to PM Modi's journey onboard a sea-plane from Sabarmati riverfront to Ambaji Temple. 

Seaplanes have been around in other countries for quite some time now. Its great news that it has come to Gujarat today. It is also great that it came the day after the election. Do ensure that farmers can sprinkle pesticides with the help of these planes," tweets PAAS leader Hardik Patel.

11:41 IST

PM Narendra Modi's seaplane lands at Dharoi Dam. He is set to visit the Ambaji Temple now.

11:28 IST

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visits Totana Ashram in Gujarat's Banaskantha.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visits Totana Ashram in Gujarat's Banaskantha pic.twitter.com/xDkk7DLPD3

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017

11:21 IST

Here are some more visuals of people awaiting PM Modi's arrival at the Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad from where he proceeded to Dharoi Dam, via sea-plane.

#Gujarat: People await PM Modi's arrival, he will be travelling from Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam, via sea plane #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/DKqS77bUVy

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017

11:18 IST

Separately, Congress president Rahul Gandhi today visited the famous Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad.

#Gujarat: Congress President Rahul Gandhi visits Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad pic.twitter.com/Rxv33VdI0i

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017

11:16 IST

Meanwhile, BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj hits out at Rahul Gandhi. "Even a chameleon will lose out to Rahul Gandhi when it comes to changing colours. If there are elections in Jammu & Kashmir he'll wear a skull cap, in UP he wears a towel with the skull cap and now, he has started visiting temples in Gujarat," says Maharaj.

11:07 IST

Watch: Sea-plane takes off from Sabarmati river with PM Modi onboard, to reach Dharoi Dam.

#WATCH: Sea plane takes off from Sabarmati river with PM Modi onboard, to reach Dharoi Dam pic.twitter.com/DeHpQX7UvV

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017

10:56 IST

Some more visuals: PM Narendra Modi onboard sea-plane from Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad, to reach Dharoi Dam soon.

#Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi boards sea plane from Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad to reach Dharoi Dam pic.twitter.com/MkbBZTYXFD

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017

10:52 IST

PM Modi boards sea-plane at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, will fly to Dharoi Dam shortly.

#WATCH LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels from Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam via sea plane https://t.co/eaTMyfEEzf

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017

10:50 IST

PM Modi boards sea-plane at Sabarmati riverfront, awaiting take off for Dharoi Dam.

10:38 IST

Visuals from Dharoi Dam: PM Narendra Modi will be travelling from Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam, via sea plane.

#Visuals from Ambaji Temple in Banaskantha, to be visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/WJifctP0jp

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017

10:35 IST

Referring to PM Modi's schedule for Gujarat, Rupani said, ''Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel in the plane from here to Dharoi. He will visit Ambaji temple and come back from Dharoi to Sabarmati in the same plane."

10:34 IST

Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani is also expected to address a rally in Anand district today.  

10:26 IST

"We cannot have airports everywhere, so our government has planned to have these sea-planes," PM Modi had said on Monday.

10:12 IST

The seaplane that PM Narendra Modi is set to board has arrived at the Sabarmati riverfront. From here, PM Modi will proceed to Dharoi Dam shortly.

10:00 IST

Campaigning for the second and final phase of Gujarat assembly elections for 93 constituencies will end today.

09:59 IST

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari says talks are on with Singapore for cruise connectivity to promote cruise tourism on a mega scale.

09:52 IST

Here are some more visuals of the sea-plane Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling in, from Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam shortly.

#WATCH: #Visuals of sea plane Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling in, from Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam shortly #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/C8mqgzm1LA

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017

09:37 IST

Gadkari had shared some pictures of the landing on Twitter.

Witnessed the test landing of Sea plane in Mumbai waters. Sea planes provide an avenue to open airspace with limited terminal infra investment pic.twitter.com/cMcKROY2Lx

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) December 9, 2017

09:37 IST

Earlier, on Saturday, Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari was part of the test landing of Sea-planes in Mumbai. 

09:34 IST

Here are some more pictures of the sea-plane which will ferry PM Modi to the famous Ambaji Temple after he lands on the Sabarmati River. 

#Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to travel from Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam via sea plane, shortly pic.twitter.com/GWjrVO5Sgz

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017

08:05 IST

06:58 IST

06:57 IST

06:56 IST