Congress to take on Modi on development front

Congress may be gleefully watching the rebellion against Narendra Modi in the BJP, yet it has decided to raise issues related to "aam admi", rather than fall to the temptation of Modi-bashing, as it gets ready for the Assembly election, due by the year-end.

Talking to Business Standard on the party's preparation for the crucial election, which would put to test the charisma of Narendra Modi minus the 2005 Hindutva wave, AICC General Secretary Hari Prasad said, "This election is going to be tough for Narendra Modi as he is not supported by any wave."

Although Congress does not foresee any major split in the BJP, its Gujarat hands feel that the rebels appear to be determined to seek replacement of Narendra Modi. "Some of the senior party leaders in Gujarat have openly accused Modi of bringing bad name to Gujarat and called him a despot," a senior AICC leader said.

Congress leaders say that after five years, the Hindutva fervour has ebbed and a "realism" about its fallout is dawning on the people. Modi is no longer seen as a saviour of Hindutva but a helpless cult personality who could not save "the perpetrators of the riots nor could he compensate their families."

In the last election, Congress had touched an all-time low of 47 seats as against the landslide victory of BJP on 130 seats. The party also saw its traditional strongholds, like the tribal-dominated constituencies and farmers, fall to the post-Godhra wave.

However, today, Prasad says Congress has decided to question Modi's developmental strategies, which, he alleges, had discriminated against the farmers and also against tribals. "Gujarat remains one of the largest recipient of the central aid and yet the results are nowhere to be seen," he said.

The party had started a campaign in the tribal- dominated districts where Sonia Gandhi had addressed three rallies. Next, the party is going to focus on farmers' unrest. "Narendra Modi had promised 18 hours of power supply to the farmers but today they are getting only six hours supply," said Prasad.

The party has already launched a media campaign "Peaceful Gujarat" to invoke the pride of people.

"We have even tried to invoke the name of Gandhiji by organising bicycle rallies from Sabarmati to Porbandar," said Prasad.