Congress reacts to Advani's resignation

Congress' Janardan Dwivedi call the move the beginning of a complete degeneration of BJP

With BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani’s resignation and ongoing internal war of the BJP in full public view, the Congress reacted with expected smugness, describing it as the “complete degeneration” of the party. The Congress however perceived “no threat” in Narendra Modi’s elevation as BJP’s campaign chief and with NDA ally JD(U) having second thoughts about its alliance, Congress said Modi was more a “divisive force” than anything else.  

Congress media chairperson and general secretary Janardan Dwivedi speaking to reporters today said, “This is the beginning of the complete degeneration of the BJP. It will have its own repercussions.” Advani’s resignation he said, was the first of such repercussions.

Referring to the self goal that the BJP had scored and how the “advantage” that it believed it had gained by naming Modi as Election Campaign chief had been “shortlived”  Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury speaking to Business Standard said, “Modi has proved to be a divisive force not just within the country but within his own party as well.” She stressed on the “complete disconnect” that the main Opposition party appears to suffer from.

Minister of State for HRD Shashi Tharoor took to Twitter to air his views, “So this is why they called BJP "a party with a difference"! In Congress our leaders defer to each other, in BJP they differ with each other.”  

Birendra Chaudhry, Congress General Secretary speaking to Business Standard rejected the view that the Congress would need to take Narendra Modi more seriously especially after his national role now that he had been elevated. “Modi is not a factor for us. Rather his appointment as chief campaigner would help consolidate the minority vote into the Congress fold.” Chaudhry argues that the “so called mobilization of the Hindu vote is a myth. There are several regions in the country which do not vote on religious lines.”      

Earlier in the day senior leader Digvijaya Singh speaking to reporters said, “Its clear that Modi has always chopped off the hands which promoted him. That is why we would like to caution Rajnath Singh”. Adding, “He (Advani) was a man who took the tally of BJP from two in 1984 to 182. If this person has demanded some more time and asked to wait for a while, or demanded setting up of two committees including one headed by former BJP president Nitin Gadkari, what was the problem in waiting for a while. What was the hurry. After all they were not going to miss a plane.”

J& K chief minister and UPA ally took a dig at the Opposition party tweeting, “If his opinion didn't matter to you yesterday, why is his resignation a crisis for you today?.”