Modi’s party promises to boost economy; Congress calls exit polls fake
Masked attackers snatch vote machines in northeast India REUTERS
INDIA’S ruling coalition has promised to rev up growth, double farmers’ income and boost infrastructure spending in the next five years, after exit polls showed it would retain power when general election votes are counted on Thursday.
The exit polls have predicted an outright majority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s alliance in the sevenphase election that ended on Sunday. However, such surveys have proved misleading before, and the main opposition Congress party on Wednesday dismissed them as fake. The coalition, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is led by Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), met in New Delhi on Tuesday confident of victory.
“The NDA has resolved to speed up economic growth and fulfil the needs of the people in the next five years of our government,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh, a senior member of the BJP, told reporters. “We’re committed to a strong, developed and inclusive India.” Six of seven exit polls have predicted the NDA will comfortably exceed the majority mark of 272 seats in parliament’s lower house.
But Congress has dismissed the polls and urged its workers to remain vigilant at centres where votes are being stored before Thursday’s count.
“The next 24 hours are important, stay alert and vigilant,” its president, Rahul Gandhi, said on Twitter on Wednesday, addressing party workers.
“Don’t be scared. You are GUWAHATI: About 500 masked men carrying guns and machetes attacked Indian election officials in a remote northeastern state and made off with computerised voting machines, officials said on Wednesday. India’s mammoth election staggered over nearly six weeks ended on Sunday and were largely peaceful. But political parties opposed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s alliance have alleged tampering of voting machines and intimidation of election officials in isolated areas. Some of the attackers opened fire but there were no casualties, police said. fighting for the truth. Don’t be disheartened by the false propaganda of fake exit polls. Believe in yourself and the Congress party, your hard work will not go in vain.” The Ministry of Home Affairs has warned of violence on Thursday and asked top police and civil officials of states to take preventive measures.
“This is in the wake of calls given and statements made in various quarters for inciting violence and causing disruption on the day of counting of votes,” the ministry said in a statement.
Economic growth eased to a five-quarter low of 6.6% in the three months to December and there are signs it is still slowing. Modi has also faced criticism for weak farm prices and a shortage of jobs. March industrial output contracted for the first time in nearly two years, and surveys show a slackening in manufacturing and services growth, while car and motorbike sales have tumbled.
Some economists have called for some stimulus.
Singh said plans were ready to meet the BJP’s manifesto pledge to spend 100 trillion rupees ($1.44 trillion) on infrastructure in the next five years and 25 trillion rupees on agriculture and rural development. He also reiterated the BJP goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022, the 75th year of India’s independence from British colonial rule.