BJP president Amit Shah to file nomination papers from Gandhinagar, to hold mega-NDA rally alongside Rajnath Singh, Uddhav Thackeray, Nitin Gadkari: LIVE UPDATES

Union Minister Rajnath Singh during the rally said:

"I had decided that if Amit bhai Shah contests the polls, I will be there to support him.

"Gujarat will bless Shah immensely for his work for the state.

The entire world recognises India's economic perfomance,

Our country is in strong capable hands. Say it with confidence, 'Chowkidar chor nahi, Chowkidar pure he. Say it with confidence, 'Chowkidaar chor nahi, firse PM banna sure he, saari samasya ka samadhan sure he."

Watch his speech below:

BJP chief Amit Shah addresses the rally:

"Today I am going to file my nomination as a BJP candidate for the Gandhinagar seat. Standing here at the Sardar Vallabhai Patel colony, I'm reminded of 1982 when I was working here as a party booth worker.

"If you remove BJP from my life, you're left with only 'zero'

"These elections are going to be fought on only one issue: Who will lead the country? When I ask this question, from all corners of India, there's only one answer - 'Modi, Modi, Modi':

"The Gandhinagar seat is one of the most important in the country. I will strive to take forward Advani ji's legacy."

Amit Shah holds a roadshow in Ahmedabad.

Amit Shah files nomination to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Gandhinagar

Watch it below:

BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Piyush Goyal, Nitin Gadkari present at the venue. LJP's Ram Vilas Paswan, Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray, SAD's Parkash Singh Badal reach the venue.

SAD supremo Parkash Singh Badal address rally:

"Life of Amit Shah is a lighthouse for us. He is a grassroot worker and has served in the state assembly. 

SAD is a strong partner of BJP. I hope PM Modi becomes the country's PM."

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari spoke at the rally:

"What did not happen in 50 years, Modi ji did in five years.

The farmers are progressing while the nation is gaining stature internationally.

Amit bhai has made BJP the biggest political party in the world. Amit bhai has diversified the party. He has extended the reach of BJP from Northeast to South India. This government did not discriminate against anyone, we followed 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas."

Watch the

excerpt from his speech below:

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray address the crowd at the rally:

"Many must have been surprised about my attendance here, others are unhappy about this. The solution to their unhappiness is with you. 

"People here understand Marathi, this kind of brotherhood should be there amongst us.

"BJP and Shiv Sena has resolved their differences. Nationalism has brought BJP and Shiv Sena together.

"Our differences were resolved Hindutva is our common ideology. My father used to say that Hindutva is in our breath.

"The Ab-Tak Chhapan (Opposition) are here.  Opposition came together, they joined hands, we joined hearts.

"Shiv Sena and BJP have a common ideology, what do the Opposition have in common? Who is there leader?"

Thousands gather for Shah's campaign:

2,000 women supporters present at the rally venue:

Amit Shah reaches rally venue in Ahmedabad. He paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel earlier today.

Amit Shah is enroute rally venue in Ahmedabad.

Visuals from the venue:

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah will file his nomination papers from Gandhinagar constituency on March 30. He will file his nomination at around 1.30 pm.

Shah, who is a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP), will contest the Lok Sabha elections for the first time. He has been fielded from Gandhinagar constituency, which is currently held by BJP veteran LK Advani.

"He will file the nomination at noon on Saturday in the presence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, former Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan and BJP's national general secretary Ram Lal," said Mahendra Panday, BJP secretary, in a press release.

Rajnath Singh tweeted about joining the events:

Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut told ANI: "Amit Shah called up Uddhav Thackeray and extended a special invitation, requesting our party chief to accompany him to file nomination in Gandhinagar. He has accepted the nomination.

The presence of the top BJP-led NDA brass at the event is being seen by observers as a show of support for Shah and an acknowledgement of him being the second most powerful leader in the alliance after Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

READ | Will bring NRC in West Bengal, throw out infiltrators: Amit Shah

Before filing the nomination, Shah will address a huge election rally in Naranpura area of Ahmedabad, followed by a massive roadshow which will start from DRH Regency hotel and culminate at Patidar Chowk in Ghatlodia area. Naranpura is Shah's old assembly seat that falls in the Gandhinagar LS Constituency.

The roadshow will begin from Sardar Patel statue in Naranpura. It will be a 4km long.

Ahead of the roadshow the BJP chief will address party cadre. Shah will be greeted with a human chain formed by over 1000 party workers.

AMIT SHAH"S TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

9:40 am- Public Rally (Vijay Sankalp Sabha) at Naranpura, Ahmedabad
10:40 am- Road-show to begin
1:20 am - Nomination Center

Amit Shah also tweeted about his rally and roadshow schedule:

Polling for all the 26 seats of Gujarat will take place on April 23. Last date to file nominations is April 4.

READ | Uddhav Thackeray, Parkash Badal To Join Amit Shah's Ahmedabad Road Show

(With ANI inputs)