A day after launching a scathing attack on the BJP-led Centre over Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah controversy, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is all set to begin the third and the final day of his trip from Chhota Udaipur in Gujarat on Wednesday.

As the poll-bound state inches closer to election day,  Rahul will meet multiple groups, including tribal students in Chhota Udaipur and skilled workers in Godhra. The Congress vice-president will hold a roadshow in Godhra.

This is Rahul’s schedule for Wednesday:

09.45 am: Departure from Circuit House

10 am -10.45 am: Interaction with tribal students at Darbar Hall, Chhota Udaipur

12.20 pm -12.45 pm: Corner meeting on unemployment at Devgarh Baria, Dahod

1.10 pm -1.40 pm: Corner meeting on ‘Adivasi adhikar’ at Limkheda, Dahod

1.50 pm -2 pm: Darshan at Kabir Mandir, Saliya, Dahod

2.20 pm -2.45 pm: Corner meeting at Santroad, Panchmahal

3.10 pm -3.50 pm: Swagat points at Gandhi Chowk, Buravav Char Rasta & Bamania Chowk, Godhra, and address from the bus

4.10 pm -4.40 pm: Interaction with skilled workers at Harpreet Dhaba, Tuwa Village, Godhra

5:20 pm -6:20 pm: Darshan and public meeting at Fagwel, Temple Ground, Kheda

Rahul will then catch a flight to Delhi.

Rahul, who began the second leg of his campaign tour in Gujarat on Monday, stepped up his attack on Modi  on Tuesday over the alleged business dealings of Jay Shah, asking him if he was a “partner” in the “theft”.

He also criticised Union ministers and BJP leaders who defended Jay, saying they should change the name of the government’s flagship scheme for the girl child — “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao“— to “Amit Shah ke bete ko bachao“.

 

Rahul also hit out at the NDA government over the economy and demanded that the rates under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) not exceed 18 percent. “In spite of our request to the Centre, they are charging rates of over 18 percent under the GST,” he said, adding high taxes have ruined many businesses.

Congress aims to reverse course

After three successive defeats in Gujarat in 2003, 2007 and 2012, the Congress is aiming to reverse course — a task made a tad easier in light of the fact that Narendra Modi no longer stands as a chief ministerial candidate for the BJP.

Congress’ chances in the state seem to have strengthened after Ahmed Patel’s election to a Rajya Sabha seat in August, a high-stakes contest seen by many as a battle for prestige between the BJP and Congress.

Since then, the party has conducted multiple events to advance its Gujarat campaign.