Amit Shah meets Rivaba Jadeja, Ravindra Jadeja ahead of today's Gujarat campaign
Gujarat election: Amit Shah will be joined by prime minister Narendra Modi and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath in campaigning for the BJP today.
Union home minister Amit Shah met BJP leader Rivaba Jadeja and her husband, India cricketer Ravindra Jadeja at the airport in Gujarat's Jamnagar Monday. Visuals from news agency ANI showed Shah - to campaign in Tapi and Narmada districts later today - and the Jadejas greeting each other with 'namastes.
Rivaba Jadeja is a BJP candidate from the Jamnagar (north) Assembly seat in the Gujarat election. The seat votes in the first phase on December 1; the second and final phase will be on December 5 and counting of votes from Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh (which voted November 12) will be on December 8.
Full Coverage: Gujarat 2022 Assembly election
On Saturday Rivaba Jadeja said filing her papers was an 'emotional' moment; " I want to inspire couples... women can fulfil their dreams even after marriage (if) their husband's support is strong..." she said with Ravindra Jadeja by her side.
READ | 'She wants to follow PM Modi...': Ravindra Jadeja bats for wife Rivaba
Speaking to news agency ANI on Saturday, Rivaba Jadeja also slammed rivals Aam Aadmi Party - which is looking to build on success in Punjab in February, where Arvind Kejriwal's outfit displaced the Congress.
READ | 'Women can fulfil dreams post marriage': Rivaba Jadeja on Gujarat polls
The BJP's decision to field Rivaba came as something of a surprise, particularly for the lawmaker who holds the seat - Hakubha Jadeja.
He is an accused in a 2007 mob violence case and one of dozens of MLAs dropped by the BJP as the ruling party shuffled its pack to ensure an unprecedented eighth consecutive term.
Among other notable figures the party has turned to to ensure another five years in Modi's home state is ex Congress leader Hardik Patel and ex MLA Kantilal Amrutia, who 'saved' many lives" after the Morbi bridge collapse.
READ | Gujarat polls: Rivaba Jadeja, Hardik Patel in BJP’s 1st list of nominees
Gujarat will witness a high-octane campaign Monday, with Modi, Shah and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath in action for the BJP. Rahul Gandhi and Delhi chief minister Kejriwal will turn out for the Congress and the AAP.
With input from ANI
