At a time, when no top rung leaders of Congress has anything good to say about BJP’s PM in-waiting Narendra Modi, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh who has spent 60 years in politics took party men by surprise by lavishing praise on Modi, terming him as an able administrator and strategist.
“If Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi comes to the state, he is most welcome personally but politically, we will oppose him. He has great regard for me and I regard him equally. He is one of the able administrators and strategists in BJP,” said Virbhadra Singh at Congress headquarters here, while addressing party workers of Shimla parliamentary seat.
“We have contested two Assembly elections when Modi led the campaign charge of Himachal Pradesh BJP. One during his stint as State in-charge and second after he was made Gujarat Chief Minister but in both the elections, Congress won,” said Virbhadra Singh asking the party workers not to worry by Modi and focus on ensuring win for the party candidates.
Virbhadra Singh devoted 15 minutes on Modi during his half an hour address to party workers and said that there were times when he had direct faceoff with Modi during campaigning. “Many a times, we used to be campaigning in same village or city of state but still Congress has taken him head on and won different elections. As far as Himachal is concerned, Congress workers should not fear as despite of Modi leading the campaign charge of BJP, party will win all the four seats in 2014,” said Singh
Chief Minister said “there is unusual hype in media especially social and print media about Modi but as far my experience with him is concerned, I tell you he is not invincible.” Singh said that media should refrain itself from making any individual larger than life. Asking the party workers to take the good work of UPA Government and Congress Government in state to the last man of the village, Virbhadra said a man cannot become Chief Minister or Prime Minister without the support of party workers. “It is the effort of party workers, which makes a Chief Minister or Prime Minister,” said Singh.
He asked the party workers not to get involved in any transfer-postings and said party workers should focus on development works and it should be on their top agenda. “Party workers come to me with a sheet of paper and request me for transfer-posting while they should come to me with some developmental work in their respective areas,” said Singh. AICC secretary co-in-charge of state, Raja Ram Pal Singh and Congress chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu addressed the party workers of Shimla parliamentary constituency asking them to focus on elections and ensuring win for the party candidate.