Modi invokes Munde to seek votes in Maharashtra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday invoked the late Gopinath Munde to seek votes for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Maharashtra assembly elections Oct 15.

Addressing a massive rally here, Munde's home district in the backward Marathwada region, Modi said: "If Munde had been alive, I need not have come here today...."

likening the late cabinet colleague as his "younger brother", Modi said he had worked closely with the Marathwada leader for over 20 years.

"I was confident that he could do wonders for the people and farmers of this state..." Modi said, recalling Munde's state-wide appeal as a mass leader, who passed away in a road accident last June in New Delhi.

Attacking the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, he said for 15 years, they ruled Maharashtra, but the state has fallen back on every count.

"What did you gainIJ Has it benefitted you, the farmers, Dalits, Backward Classes, tribals, women and children, village, towns and citiesIJ A whole generation has been ruined... They kept changing chief ministers and continued in power, but the commoners continued to suffer," Modi said.

He said it was imperative for the people to vote for the BJP and bring its government with a full majority to bring the state out of the 15-year old mess.

He accused the Congress-NCP of playing games to become billionaires while the state's coffers became empty.

"You gave the government to people who were more concerned about themselves than you... There were delays in decision-making, the state is in deep debt... It's a shame... The Congress-NCP have the same roots (gotra), only they have set up different shops, otherwise they are similar in all respects," he said.

He urged the people, especially the youth to give a full mandate to the BJP and its others allies. "I promise, I will take Maharashtra even further ahead than Gujarat..."Modi said people often asked him what they would do since the state's treasury is empty now.

"I tell them that if we stop corruption, that money would be sufficient to run the state," Modi said amidst a round of applause, at his maiden rally for the state assembly elections.

Acknowledging the huge gathering, he said it was a result of Munde's dedication and urged them to vote for his daughters Pritam (for Beed lok Sabha by-election) and Pankaja (for Beed Assembly). later in the day, Modi is scheduled to address rallies in Aurangabad and Mumbai.