Performance vs idleness: Rajeev on facing Tharoor

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Minister and BJP Lok Sabha poll candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday took a dig at senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, his rival in the Thiruvananthapuram seat, saying the contest would be between “politics of performance” and “15 years of non-performance”.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar said he believes that the people of Thiruvananthapuram know well about this, and expressed confidence that it would reflect in the election results.

“Certainly, people are sensible. They know what is the politics of performance, who represents the politics of performance, and who represents 15 years of non-performance,” Chandrasekhar said.

Tharoor has been representing Thiruvananthapuram for the past 15 years in the Lok Sabha.

Chandrasekhar, the Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Electronics and Information Technology and Jal Shakti, is pitched against Tharoor of Congress-led UDF and Pannian Raveendran of the CPI(M)-led LDF for the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat.

Refusing to term the electoral battle in Thiruvananthapuram a fight between individuals, Chandrasekhar said he believed it is going to reflect the people’s choice to help the country continue its 10 years of development into the next five years.

“This is not a fight between Tharoor and NDA. I do not think this is about some personality. I do not think this is about English-speaking skills or whatever,” he said, in a taunt at his Congress rival who is renowned for his eloquence.

Reducing the election to a fight between personalities goes against understanding the pulse of the people, he said.