Campaign for Gujarat by-polls end

Dampened by rain-related issues, the lacklustre campaign for the by-polls to Vadodara Lok Sabha and nine assembly seats in Gujarat, came to an end today with the ruling BJP seeking votes in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, even as the Congress looks to capitalise on his absence.
The by-polls which are considered to be litmus test of the new chief minister Anandiben Patel, as they are the first under her leadership in the state, have not seen much enthusiasm from people.
Heavy rains in Central and North Gujarat disrupted the campaign as public rallies of Union HRD minister Smriti Irani and the Chief Minister were cancelled in Vadodara.

Congress candidate Narendra Ravat also suspended his campaign due to flood like situation in Vadodara.
Two seats vacated by Modi, the Vadodara Lok Sabha and his Maninagar assembly constituency from where he was elected to the state assembly thrice, are going to polls on September 13. Counting of the votes will be held on September 17.
The other eight assembly constituencies which are going to polls are: Anand, Limkheda, Deesa, Matar, Talaja, Tankara, Khambhalia and Mangrol.

The Chief Minister, in her few public rallies, has requested people to gift all the ten seats to Modi on his birthday, saying the Prime Minister will be in Gujarat on the result day and a the day after (September 17, his birthday).

Modi is scheduled to be present in Gujarat on 16 and 17th of this month to receive Chinese President Xi Jinping who will reach the city on September 17.
BJP candidates have also campaigned on the "good governance" record at the state and Centre of Modi.
The Congress on the other hand is expecting the contest to be between their local leaders and that of BJP state leadership under chief minister Patel. The Congress is hoping that the exit of Modi from Gujarat, who had defeated the Opposition in various elections since 2001, will provide some relief to the party.