'Desperate' BJP trying to polarise nation on communal lines: D Raja

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over media reports that it may announce Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate by the end of July, saying it reflects the weakness of the saffron outfit that cannot project any policy and programme.

Raja alleged that the BJP is trying to do is undermine the political system in the country.

"We do not elect Prime Minister directly, it is not our system. Even we do not elect the President directly. Whichever party gets adequate number to form the government, whichever coalition gets adequate number to form the government after elections; it is their prerogative to choose the leader," said Raja.

"But choosing the leader before election itself shows the weakness of that party. It cannot project any policy, it cannot project any programme. It wants to project a personality who is very controversial personality in the country," he added.

Raja further alleged that it shows the desperation on the BJP's part.

"I do not think there is a wave for Modi. I do not know in which world the BJP is living, but it shows the big desperation on the part of the BJP. The BJP is extremely desperate; somehow it wants to come to power and wants to win the elections," said Raja.

"So, the BJP tries all tricks and BJP wants to communalise the situation, it wants to polarise the people on the communal lines. It can go to any extent to divide the people, polarise the people which is not in the interest of democracy," he added.

According to certain media reports, the BJP will formally announce Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate for 2014 Lok Sabha polls by July end.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has also conveyed its support to Modi, and has tried to bring BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani on board to support the Gujarat Chief Minister as the party's Prime Ministerial candidate.

The BJP earlier on Monday said it is ready to face snap polls if the ruling Congress Party opts for it.

Taking to the media here after the BJP's Parliamentary Board meeting, senior party leader Ananth Kumar alleged that the Congress might go for early polls.

Highlighting the failures of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre, he said the BJP would go to polls with development and good governance as its main agenda.

Kumar further alleged that the Congress brought the Ordinance on the Food Security, as it was not confident of getting the support of its allies in the Parliament.

The BJP's Parliamentary Board met for the second time in a week yesterday to continue discussing election strategy and other political matters.

Senior BJP leaders Lal Krishna Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley and party chief Rajnath Singh were present in yesterday's meeting along with Modi, who has been appointed as campaign committee chief.