Aravalli, April 17 Gujarat is the highest employment-generating state in the country, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said on Friday while addressing a campaign meeting in Aravalli district ahead of the local self-government elections.
Speaking at a 'Vikas Sankalp Sabha' in Sathamba village of Bayad taluka, Patel said, “If there is any state in the entire country that provides the highest employment, it is Gujarat,” attributing this to sustained development policies and infrastructure expansion.
Referring to a corridor project in the region approved at a cost of Rs 1,600 crore, he said such investments would ensure that “the pace of development will not slow down”.
Outlining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s approach, he said, “Working only during elections is not the functioning style of the BJP; staying continuously among the people and resolving their problems is the identity of BJP workers.”
He added, “After elections, opposition candidates never come among the people,” contrasting this with the BJP workers’ presence during crises, including the Covid pandemic.
Emphasising development-led politics, Patel credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with reshaping electoral discourse.
“After Narendra Modi became Chief Minister of Gujarat, elections began to be fought on the issue of development,” he said, adding, “In today’s technological era, it has become essential to give an account of work to the people.”
He further said that PM Modi had “paved the path of development across the country”.
Recalling past challenges, he said Gujarat had faced difficulties related to water, electricity and roads, but added that “by setting high targets”, PM Modi ensured 24-hour electricity and the supply of Narmada water to households, which had “continuously strengthened public trust”.
Detailing measures for farmers and landholders, Patel said: "The state government had decided to convert land conditions from new tenure to old tenure with direct corrections in 7/12 land records."
On water conservation, he said the government had allocated Rs 50 lakh to each legislator under the ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign to increase pond capacity and recharge groundwater.
He also appealed to citizens to join the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign to expand green cover and support environmental conservation.
Patel urged voters to ensure “a massive victory” for BJP candidates in the polls scheduled for April 26.
--IANS
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