Gujarat Assembly elections 2012: Narendra Modi confident of victory

GANDHINAGAR: Conveying New Year greetings to the people of Gujarat, Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said the state will celebrate a bigger Diwali on December 20, the day when poll results will be out.

The Gujarati New Year is celebrated the day after the festival of Diwali.

"The people of Gujarat are determined not to let darkness enter the state...the journey of brightness going on for the last 11 years will go ahead for 5 more years," Modi said, reaffirming his prediction that the BJP will win big in the upcoming state Assembly elections.

"Although Gujarat is celebrating the 'festival of lights' now, the people would celebrate another Diwali on 20th December...and this Diwali will be after the festival of democracy-elections," he said.

Last month, Modi had said that Diwali would be celebrated twice in Gujarat this year -- once the traditional festival of lights and the second to celebrate victory of democracy.

Voting for Gujarat elections will take place on December 13 and 17 while counting will be held on December 20.

"Greetings on Nav Varsh! May the New Year further strengthen spirit of 'Sauno Saath, Sauno Vikas' (All Together, Growth for All) & may there be peace, joy in our lives," Modi tweeted.

"We should take a pledge that people of India get free from darkness of price rise, unemployment and corruption," Modi said in his New Year message.

Expressing hope that people would abide by the pledge, Modi said, "Every youngster of the country gets energy to fulfil his or her dreams and there is an atmosphere of development in the nation."

The Chief Minister also met Gujarat Governor Kamla at Raj Bhawan and greeted her on the beginning of the New Year.

Modi also conveyed greetings to Gujaratis placed across the globe, and to people wherever Diwali is celebrated. A large number of people from all age groups and sections of society met the Chief Minister in Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad to exchange New Year greetings.