SURAT/AHMEDABAD: Several political bigwigs were forced to cancel their election rallies due to inclement weather even as Cyclone Ockhi weakened rapidly all through Tuesday to turn into a depression and was unlikely to even cross Surat.

While Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi called off his programmes in Morbi, Dhrangadhra and Surendranagar, PM Narendra Modi postponed his Wednesday’s Surat rally. BJP president Amit Shah also cancelled his rallies in Rajula, Mahuva and Shihor towns in Saurashtra.

Due to bad weather, Rahul arrived very late in Bhuj on Tuesday for the rally in Anjar. He addressed the public meeting there, but then returned to Delhi from Gandhidham as his chopper was unable to fly to the three other planned election meetings.

However, Modi has kept to his campaign plan on December 8 and 9, barring a meeting in Surat on December 6, which has been cancelled.

He took to Twitter to appeal to BJP workers to help those hit by the Cyclone. “With Cyclone Ockhi expected to make a landfall in Gujarat, I appeal to BJP Gujarat Karyakartas to focus on helping people across the state. Our Karyakartas should devote themselves to providing all possible assistance and stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow citizens,” Modi said.