PM back on Gujarat campaign trail, slams Cong for not backing tribal for Prez, playing vote bank politics

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday sought to corner the Congress for not supporting a tribal woman, Droupadi Murmu, in the presidential poll and lashed out at the opposition party, accusing it of engaging in vote bank politics, nepotism, sectarianism and supporting "anti-social elements" during its rule in Gujarat. The PM hit the campaign trail in Gujarat just after a day-long break and addressed rallies in Dahod, Mehsana, Vadodara and Bhavnagar in support of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates ahead of the next month's Assembly polls. Earlier, Modi was in the state for three days - November 19, 20 and 21 - and addressed a series of poll meetings for his party. Speaking at an election rally in the tribal-dominated Dahod town of central Gujarat for BJP candidates in the region, Modi asked why the Congress did not support Murmu in the presidential election if the opposition party was so concerned about adivasis. The PM also referred to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, without taking his name, and his Bharat Jodo Yatra, which is currently passing through adjoining Madhya Pradesh. Speaking at a rally in tribal-dominated Mahuva village in Surat district on Monday,