'Congress trembles when they hear Modi's name'

Ridiculing the Congress and its allies for fearing him, BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said in Kalyan on Monday that the ruling coalition is more concerned about stopping him than strategising to win the Lok Sabha election.

Addressing a rally of the Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI combine, Modi said that the Congress has a singular agenda of "Modi roko" (stop Modi).

"They tremble when they hear Modi's name, since they know their place after May 16," he said.

Targeting the UPA government as "Ma bete ki sarkar (government of mother and son)", Modi said the government shamelessly failed to deliver on its "slum free" and "employment" promises.

"The government has no respect for democratic institutions. Such is the arrogance that the family feels it is not answerable to anyone. The character of the Congress is to only fool the people," the Gujarat chief minister said.

Modi said that 232 constituencies have voted so far and it is clear that the UPA government is on its way out.

"Polling so far has laid the foundation stone of the next government. It is the duty of those going to vote in the next phase to ensure a strong and stable government," he said and urged people to see to it that the Congress-NCP never opened their account in the state.

"You give us a mandate for a strong government and we will ensure you a strong nation," Modi said.

Sharing the stage with Modi for the first time, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray lauded the Gujarat chief minister as a "strong and decisive leader".

Special Coverage: Election 2014

Image: BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi poses for a selfie with BJP leader Poonam Mahajan at a Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI joint rally in Kalyan. Also seen in Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray

Photograph: Sahil Salvi/Rediff.com