Not ruling out a two-thirds majority for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Lok Sabha polls, senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday asserted that Narendra Modi had no competitor for the top post and dared the opposition parties to name their leader without keeping voters in the dark .
Just five days to go before the last phase of polling on Sunday, the senior most cabinet minister in Modi regime asked who is the opposition's leader vis-Ã -vis Modi ? Rajnath said opposition's leader is "unknown" even as it claims to be winning the Lok Sabha poll.
"2014 was about Modi versus Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi. In 2019, it is Modi versus who? That is unknown."
"If they are claiming, they should say who will lead them. People should not be kept in dark in a healthy democracy. The opposition should not play hide and seek," the BJP leader said at a press conference here at BJP headquarters.
The last seventh phase will have 59 Lok Sabha constituencies spread across eight states of Bihar (8 parliamentary constituencies), Jharkhand (3), Madhya Pradesh (8), Punjab (13), West Bengal (9), Chandigarh (1), Uttar Pradesh (13) and Himachal Pradesh (4).
The BJP's re-assertion on Rs Modi versus noneRs in the final round is clearly aimed to squeeze out the best results before the high-pitch campaigning concludes on May 19. UP, where SP-BSP-RLD alliance is giving a major challenge to the NDA for total 80 seats, would vote for 13 seats on Sunday.
Rajnath's statement marks the BJP's renewed bit to attract the apparent face-sitters in 59 Lok Sabha seats in eight states.
Asked about the likely meeting of opposition leaders, he took a swipe at them, saying they are unable to elect a leader as they know that they will not get a majority.
Rajnath asked the opposition to not play "hide and seek" with people by not announcing who is its leader. He said voters should not be kept in the dark in a healthy democracy.
BJP leader claimed that a two-thirds majority for the ruling NDA cannot be ruled out as the hope and expectation from Modi during the 2014 polls had turned into confidence and belief this time.
The BJP in 2014 had won its maiden majority by winning 282 of 543 Lok Sabha seats.
Questioned about the SP-BSP alliance, he said his party earlier believed that it will be an "effective" combine but it has fizzled out and that the BJP has set a target of winning 74 of the state's 80 seats. Rajnath said people are keen to give Modi another term as they have a sense of satisfaction with his tenure.
The three hallmarks of the Modi government's success were in 'antyodaya' (uplift of the last person in queue), and ensuring the country's development and security, he said.
Accusing the Congress of "weakening" India's battle against terrorism, he slammed the party for coining terms like "Hindu terror and saffron terror" and said all parties should stand together on such an issue.
The BJP leader counted it as one of the big successes of the government that price rise was not an issue for the opposition, saying it showed how the government had tamed inflation.
He said in a lighter vein that inflation rate was over 12 per cent in Pakistan, and India did not allow it to cross the Wagah border.