Kickstarting his election campaign in the South from here, Narendra Modi today appealed to all non-Congress parties to come together to rid the country of Congress at the Centre and end "dynastic" rule even as he reached out to TDP.
Spitting fire at the Congress over the policy being adopted towards Pakistan in the light of the LoC attack, the BJP's national election campaign chief also demanded to know from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh what his government did to check the neighbouring country in the wake of its continued atrocities on Indian soldiers.
The Gujarat Chief Minister was addressing a mammoth rally at Lal Bahadur stadium, his first major public meeting after being made head of the BJP's election campaign committee in June.
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In a bid to woo fresh allies, Modi made a specific appeal to Telugu Desam(TDP), which has inherited the legacy of late N T Rama Rao, a former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, saying it was its duty to see that the government at the Centre be made Congress-free.
"Congress party is a burden on this nation. Today I want to remember NTR when I come here. NTR did service not only to Andhra but the whole of India when he gave boost to anti- Congress politics. It was NTR's efforts that paved the way for formation of a non-Congress government at the Centre.
"I appeal to all political parties in Andhra Pradesh here, what can be a supreme tribute to NTR than providing a non-Congress government," said Modi while addressing a huge gathering at the Lal Bahadur stadium here organised by BJP.
"All those who claim NTR's legacy, their first duty is to do everything to bring a non-Congress government. It should be their duty to do everything in this regard. I am confident that Andhra Pradesh's political parties will not leave any stone unturned to bring a non-Congress government and end this dynastic rule," he said.
Addressing TDP specifically, Modi said, "It is their duty also to fulfill NTR's dreams."
"Desh mein Congress mukt bharat ki hawa ban chuki hai (An atmosphere has been created for a Congress-free India)."
TDP, headed by N Chandrababu Naidu, is a former constituent of BJP-led NDA and supported the Vajpayee government from 1998 to 2004. The TDP severed its alliance with BJP after the 2004 election defeat.
Modi also praised the governance model of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha of AIADMK in whom the NDA sees a possible ally. "You hate Gujarat, don't speak about it. Take the Tamil Nadu example and speak about the development there."
Modi ended his 45-minute speech taking a leaf out of US president Barack Obama by making the crowd chant "yes we can". He also said that the only vision of a government at the Centre should be "India first".
