The assembly elections are still 10 months away, but Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and his government already seem to be in poll mode.
Government officials said the state government has finalised plans to hold the 4th round of Garib Kalyan Melas (GKM), wherein aid is distributed under various government schemes among beneficiaries, in April, immediately after the budget session of the assembly.
Officials said a total of 300 GKMs would be held in 223 talukas of the state in April. However, the estimates of beneficiaries and the aid to be distributed among them are still being worked out.
The elections are still some time away, but Modi is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to sweep the assembly polls for the 3rd consecutive time. He has already crisscrossed the state for his one-day fasts of the Sadbhavana Mission, seeking support
for development.
The government will hold the GKMs in April after the budget session, to be followed by Krushi Mahotsava in May and June, which will provide another opportunity to Modi to travel extensively in the state and campaign ahead of the polls.
According to officials, 26 GKMs will be held in the eight municipal corporation areas, including 11 in Ahmedabad city, three in Surat and three in Vadodara. Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar and Junagadh will hold two GKMs each, while Gandhinagar will hold one such mela.
