Narendra Modi's elevation as BJP's prime ministerial candidate drew sharp reactions today as Congress alleged that he was "desperate" to grab power while other parties feared further communalisation.
Samajwadi Party said Modi's effect is only confined to cities due to the media, and he should be termed as "PM-in-waiting".
Congress leaders also suggested that the BJP had committed "political suicide" by nominating Modi as the PM candidate after leaders like Atal Behari Vajpayee and L K Advani were rejected by people of the country.
Criticising Modi for his "I, me, myself" style, Congress leaders also reminded that unlike the Gujarat Chief Minister, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi takes everybody along and delegates responsibilities while not offending any section.
Terming Modi's ambition a pipe-dream, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said, "...That shows that he is delusional, he is desperate.
"I can say that with certainty that he will always be speaking from the ramparts of replicas and not from the real Red Fort and not address the real Parliament that is for sure because that misfortune will never visit people of India."
Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said the BJP will significantly contribute to the formation of UPA-III by deciding to project "so divisive a person as Modi".
CPI-M leader Prakash Karat said, "BJP cannot be an option to Congress. They have projected Narendra Modi as PM candidate. This means BJP will now make policies in favour of the big capitalists and corporates in the country. Moreover, he is a candidate of RSS. So he will adopt a policy of spreading communalism in our country."
JD-U leader Sharad Yadav said,"Anybody can be garlanded and hailed within his own party. Every party can do it, but the country is very big. This secularism, the practice to take everybody along is the foundation of the country and is necessary to keep the country united. If we go beyond, that it will lead to destruction.
