LS polls: Porbandar residents call for embracing Mahatma Gandhi's principles in political discourse

Porbandar (Gujarat) [India], May 1 : Amidst the fervour of the Lok Sabha elections, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi has become a reminder of his legacy as many voices are urging a shift in political discourse towards embracing not just Gandhi's name but also his principles.
The tourists visiting the site expressed a collective sentiment urging political parties to embody his principles in their actions.
Anil Kumar, a tourist said that Gandhiji's message of 'non-violence' is crucial for progress, whether in elections or politics.
"Advancing with non-violence is essential; no one should cause mental or physical harm, and everyone should strive to win through non-violence. Unfortunately, this seems absent today, whether in elections or governance. If we embrace Gandhi's message, India will become better. Hence, Gandhi's principles are much needed in today's politics," he told ANI.

Another tourist Arun said that Mahatma Gandhi's relevance in politics is "undeniable", however, today's politics is heading in the "opposite direction".
"As a voter, I want peace to prevail across India. Accusations and counter-accusations continue among political parties, but there's no evidence. Gandhi ji said, 'Speak the truth with evidence.' Therefore, let's practice politics with truth. Just mentioning Gandhi's name is not enough; we must also adhere to his principles for the country to progress well," he said.
Nikila, another tourist reflecting on her visit to Gujarat in 2019, said that she has seen a lot of progress, but as a citizen of India, wants to see more developments.
"Also, I want to say to the political parties that they need to show what Mahatma Gandhi has done, what he has told to his followers. They also need to follow the principle of Gandhi, which I don't see at present," she said.
Sudhir Kumar Goyal, a tourist said that Gandhi is not just a name; he's an inspiration who contributed to liberating the nation, led non-violent protests, initiated the Salt Satyagraha and awakened consciousness among common people.
"Gandhi ji remains as relevant today as he was back then. Ensuring equal rights for all is the need of the hour, and we hope for it from political parties," he said.
Another tourist, Rashmi Goyal called for everyone to walk on the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi and incorporate his policies in life.
"While all political parties have promoted Gandhi's principles, they tend to deviate from them when practising politics. Therefore, they also need to remember that if we are talking about Gandhi's principles, we should keep ourselves under control, neither provoking the public nor getting provoked ourselves," she said.

These voices from Mahatma Gandhi's birthplace serve as a reminder of his enduring influence and the collective aspiration for a politics grounded in truth, non-violence, and principled governance.
As the nation approaches the Lok Sabha elections, the resonance of these calls echoes a hopeful future guided by Gandhi's values.
Gujarat will vote for 25 out of 26 parliamentary seats in the Lok Sabha elections on May 7.
On the remaining constituency of Surat, BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal was elected 'unopposed' after the nomination papers of the Congress party's candidate Nilesh Kumbhani were rejected, as his three proposers claimed in an affidavit to the district election officer they had not signed his nomination form.
Gujarat, the home state of both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is a citadel of the BJP with the party winning all 26 seats in the last two general elections.