Opposition on toe at Rahul's remarks

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s praiseworthy remarks against Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Third Front partner Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Chandra Babu Naidu has kept oppositions on toe and propelled them to react on it.

The opposition BJP has taken Rahul’s remarks as made out of desperation.

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BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said Congress’ overtures towards its key ally in Bihar JD-U, TDP and Left parties are a symbol in itself that it has realised the defeat it is going to face.

“It is a sign of desperation. They are wooing the Left despite it saying there is no question; they are wooing the JD-U despite it saying there is no question,” he said and added, it shows Congress is desperate to retain the power at the Centre by any means.

JD-U spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari told a television channel that they were thankful that Rahul Gandhi appreciated good work done by them but there was no question of joining the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

Left parties, who are also unofficially offered by Gandhi for a post-poll Congress-Left alliance, said Congress can think of an alliance with them but Left will not oblige Congress this time.

‘Left will not oblige Congress this time. They are nervous about election results,’ CPI general secretary A B Bardhan reacted.

Rahul Gandhi in an address to a press conference earlier had said: “I am confident that the Left will support Manmohan Singh.’ He also said the Congress was ready to support the Left if they win 180-190 seats.

On Tuesday, the last day of campaigning for the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha polls, extolling Nitish Kumar, the Congress general secretary said, ‘It is not that only Congress has leaders who have done good work, there are leaders in the opposition too…Nitish Kumar, for example.’

About the TDP leader, Rahul Gandhi said: “Chandrababu Naidu did a reasonably good job.”