Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address a rally in Gujarat – his first since he became the prime minister in 2014 – during his ongoing trip to the state. According to NDTV, around 80,000 people will be present at the address, which is aimed at boosting the morale and confidence of party cadres.

On Tuesday, Modi inaugurated the first phase of an irrigation project in his home state Gujarat on Tuesday that will divert the floodwater from Sardar Sarovar Dam to several dams in the parched Saurasthra region, reported IANS. The Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation project was initiated by Modi when he was the chief minister in 2012. He said, "This scheme will truly benefit the people of Gujarat."

In the first phase of the project, around 10 dams and reservoirs in Rajkot, Jamnagar and Morbi filled up with the water from Narmada river, reported The Financial Express. Overall, 115 dams will get Narmada water under the irrigation project, which cost the government approximately Rs 12,000 crore. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said, “The four-phase project is expected to be completed before 2019.” The 11 districts of Saurashtra often face drought and have been reeling under severe water crisis for the last two years.

Opposition parties, however, said the SAUNI project was an "election gimmick". Shankarsinh Vaghela of the Congress said, "Modi is known to make false and deceiving promises keeping in mind the elections. Inaugurating such a project is like a lollipop to farmers ahead of the polls." Gujarat will hold Assembly elections in 2017.