Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Saturday accused the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for bringing down the quality of election campaigning during the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.
“The kind of negative campaigning and personal attacks carried out by him are unprecedented. None of the former senior leaders from any political party in the past had stoop down to such low level,” Mr. Chavan told a press conference.
He added that such behaviour is least expected from a person who is hoping to become the next prime minister of the country. “He (Mr. Modi) is the only person who is responsible for such low level of campaigning,” he said, adding that the Congress-NCP alliance will increase its seat tally after the results on May 16.
Earlier, the State unit of the party held its first ever meeting since the completion of polling process in Maharashtra, with office bearers from all districts and candidates. The party has asked its members to start preparations for the upcoming State Assembly elections to be held in October 2014.
According to sources, the issue of young voters deserting the party was the major issue of concern for all. “The party leaders were unanimous on concentrating more party’s youth wing than anywhere else,” said a senior office bearer from the party.
Meanwhile the State unit of the party has decided to send one observer each to all 288 Assembly constituencies in the State to analyse the ground realities. “This is only to understand our strength at every constituency. There are no talks of contesting elections alone,” said Mr. Chavan, when asked whether the party will continue its alliance with the NCP for the State elections.
The State unit of the party has also decided on aggressive reach out programme in the State. “At a time when our opposition is spreading lies about development we need to take our positive work to the people effectively,” said MPCC president Manikrao Thakre.
