Reuters
New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday said the BJP's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi was a "demagogue trying to force a divisive agenda" and accused him of attempting to "hijack the UPA's development plank". "Modi is being a demagogue trying to force a divisive agenda. He is trying to hijack UPA's development agenda," Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said during a media interaction here. Chavan said Modi was a three-term chief minister and had won elections, but it was quite different to run a coalition government at the centre than running a single party regime in a state.
"Gujarat has progressed not because of Modi but because of the hard work done by the people of the state," he said. Chavan asked Modi to spell out his ideas on core issues of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) like the uniform civil code and removing Article 370 of the Constitution. "They always bring up these issues during poll time but later forget them," he said. Modi should speak on his views on managing the economy and foreign policy, especially how to deal with Pakistan, Chavan said.
"Their idea of divisiveness was rejected in the very first general election," said Chavan. He said Modi's agenda was that of abuse and the Congress had to respond to it. Chavan refuted charges that the Congress was defensive and was merely responding to Modi's aggressive poll campaign.He said the Congress campaign for the Lok Sabha polls would roll out from December after the assembly polls. "Our vice president Rahul Gandhi has articulated that," he said.
"Gujarat has progressed not because of Modi but because of the hard work done by the people of the state," he said. Chavan asked Modi to spell out his ideas on core issues of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) like the uniform civil code and removing Article 370 of the Constitution. "They always bring up these issues during poll time but later forget them," he said. Modi should speak on his views on managing the economy and foreign policy, especially how to deal with Pakistan, Chavan said.
"Their idea of divisiveness was rejected in the very first general election," said Chavan. He said Modi's agenda was that of abuse and the Congress had to respond to it. Chavan refuted charges that the Congress was defensive and was merely responding to Modi's aggressive poll campaign.He said the Congress campaign for the Lok Sabha polls would roll out from December after the assembly polls. "Our vice president Rahul Gandhi has articulated that," he said.
Congress to keep alliance with NCP
The Congress will keep its alliance with the NCP in Maharashtra for the 2014 Lok Sabha election but it will seek more seats to contest, Chavan said. The Congress and the NCP run a coalition government in the state and are partners in the ruling United Progressive Alliance in New Delhi. "We will go to polls with NCP". However, he said the Congress should get more seats based on the results of the Lok Sabha and assembly elections of 2009. According to Chavan, the seat sharing between the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party was 26:22 in 2009. While the Congress bagged 17 seats, the NCP won eight.
A few months later, the seat sharing arrangement between the two parties was 174:114 for the 288-member assembly. "We should get 29 seats and the NCP 19 given this ratio," said Chavan. "These are legitimate aspirations of the Congress." Both the Congress and NCP come from the same political ideology and both opposed communal forces, he said.
A few months later, the seat sharing arrangement between the two parties was 174:114 for the 288-member assembly. "We should get 29 seats and the NCP 19 given this ratio," said Chavan. "These are legitimate aspirations of the Congress." Both the Congress and NCP come from the same political ideology and both opposed communal forces, he said.
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