Modi’s main aide claims biggest win in southern states
New Delhi, India - India’s Home Minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s most trusted aide Amit Shah on Saturday asserted that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will emerge as the single largest party in the southern states.
Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad, the capital of the southern state of Telangana, Shah expressed confidence in BJP ‘making a sweep’ in southern India, including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana where the voting is scheduled to be held on May 13 in the fourth phase.
The party, which has a massive support base in the northern part of India is seeking a strong foothold in the southern states such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the ongoing general elections.
“In the last three phases of the election, the Bjp-led NDA and its constituents have reached the mark of 200 seats. We expect good results from the fourth phase too, and we will move towards our goal of 400 seats,” a confident Shah said. “The polling in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is scheduled in the fourth phase. In both the states, NDA and BJP will make a clean sweep,” he added.
“On the day of results, that is on June 4, the BJP will emerge as the single largest party in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In these states, the BJP will get the most number of seats. In Telangana, we will win more than ten seats,” he added.
Shah also hit out at the Congress party and its alliance partners accusing them of corruption worth millions as he highlighted Prime Minister Modi’s 10-year tenure.
“On one hand, there is the Congress and its allies who are involved in corruption and scams worth around R12tn. On the other hand, there is Narendra Modi, who has not been accused of corruption of even 25 paise despite being the Chief Minister for 23 years or Prime Minister for ten years,” the Home Minister said.
He further emphasised that under Modi's leadership, the Indian economy is in 5th position globally. “As soon as the heat increases, some leaders regularly go on holiday to Thailand, Bangkok. On the other side is Narendra Modi who has not taken leave even on Diwali day for the last 23 years. On Diwali, he celebrates with the soldiers who protect the country on the borders,” he said.
“The economy of India has been handled expertly by Modi ji. We are fortunate to have a leader like Modi Ji. On the other hand, Rahul Yaan has been launched unsuccessfully 20 times and an attempt is being made to launch him for the 21st time,” Shah said.
On the interim bail given to Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, Shah pointed out that the Delhi Chief Minister has to surrender on June 2 and it is not a ‘clean chit’ for him.
“The Supreme Court has given interim bail to Kejriwal only for the election campaign. He had filed a case in the Supreme Court that my arrest was wrong, which the Supreme Court did not accept. Then he modified it to grant me bail, but that too was not accepted by the Supreme Court. He has been granted bail till the 1st date (of June) only to campaign for the elections and has to surrender again on the 2nd. If Arvind Kejriwal considers this a clean chit, then his understanding of the law is very weak,” he said.
In the last three phases, the NDA and its allies have reached the mark of 200 seats. We expect good results from the fourth phase too
AMIT SHAH