BJP is friendless after naming Modi as its leader: Congress

Union Minister and senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily on Saturday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party was turning to be a friendless party after it named Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who lacked a pan-Indian acceptance, as the chairman of its National Campaign Committee.

"They had 22 partners when the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) was in power. Now, nobody is willing to sit with them. They are left with the Shiv Sena and the Akali Dal. Even AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) leader Jayalalithaa has not clearly said that she will support Modi as the leader," Moily told Congress workers during a three-day visit to Odisha.

Moily said that Jayalalithaa had only said that Modi was her friend, but she did not make it clear whether she would back the NDA after Modi's elevation.

Contrary to the recent survey by certain media houses, Moily said the BJP was gradually losing its base across the country and alleged Modi lacked a pan-Indian acceptance.

When reporters drew his attention to the recent survey by a certain television channel, Moily said, "They do not know the ground reality. They are good at discussions in Delhi. India is a vibrant country where people like inclusive politics, inclusive economy, philosophy."

Moily added, "The BJP can only divide the nation and therefore it is untouchable by many parties. The UPA has been emerging as a strong party under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi which can provide sustainable politics”.

"They (BJP) are not in the scene in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. They have lost Karnataka and are in the process of losing some other states," Moily said, adding that the Congress would retain Rajasthan after the state elections.

The veteran Congress leader claimed that even the BJP had recorded a decline in the vote-share in Gujarat under the leadership of Modi.

"The NDA is totally in anti-climax after naming Modi as its leader. They are now minus 30 crores (support base), particularly after announcing the name of Modi," Moily said.

Referring to Odisha, Moily said the Congress would return to power in the state and the party would capture most of the Parliament and assembly seats in the next elections.