Gadkari terms Congress a sinking ship, predicts snap poll
In a clear message to investors, the Bharatiya Janata Party declared on Wednesday that if voted to power, it would reverse the UPA government’s decision to allow foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail.
The announcement came at the party’s national executive meeting here. Party president Nitin Gadkari talked about the possibility of the United Progressive Alliance government falling under the weight of its own contradictions, paving the way for a snap poll.
The meeting finalised the agenda for the two-day national council session that will begin on Thursday.
Besides reviewing the current political situation, the 1,200-member council will ratify an amendment to the party constitution to allow the president to have a second term.
The amendment, approved at the party’s national executive meeting in Mumbai in May, will put Mr. Gadkari at the helm whenever the next general election is held. To secure a second term, Mr. Gadkari has to make peace with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
The former Karnataka Chief Minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa, who is miffed at the leadership ever since he was forced to step down over a year ago after allegations linking him to the illegal mining scam emerged, was the only notable absentee.
The leadership is convinced that the party will reap rich dividends in the general election from the travails of the ruling alliance if only it keeps its house in order.
Indicating that the BJP was in no hurry, Mr. Gadkari reiterated that if the UPA fell on its own, the party was ready for polls. The leadership believed that victory in the Assembly elections, due in the next few months where the party has huge stakes, would help it position itself as a party that could lead an alliance in the next Lok Sabha polls.
Briefing reporters party chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad quoted Mr. Gadkari as saying that the Congress-led government was a “sinking ship” and elections could be held anytime.
He lashed out at the Congress for allegedly using the CBI as an “instrument of Congress ally management.” It was time for the CBI to have a window at the Congress headquarters, he said.
Keywords: BJP national executive, mid-term polls, FDI in retail, economic reforms, UPA-II
Congress has support of SP and BSP only because it threatens to use CBI against them if they withdraw support. I fully agree with Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad ji. Its indeed time for the CBI to have a window at the Congress headquarters as its no longer impartial and functions on the principle of selective morality!
The BJP ruled states have hardly been a success story as there have been enough scams to discredit the ruling dispensations. The anti-incumbency factor will be to the fore in states like Karnataka and MP and even in Gujarat Narendra Modi will feel the heat as his close confidants have been indicted in several cases. The BJP therefore is on a shaky wicket and might not have any decisive advantage over the Congress if snap polls are held.
BJP needs to put its own house in order before aspiring to occupy the centre stage of governance. Merely pandering to the fancies of traders whose numbers are assumed to be part of BJP's vote bank will not assure victory at the hustings. The outcry against FDI in retail is totally misplaced smacking of not understanding the ground realities. Even in a BJP ruled state of MP wheat stocks are rotting for want of storage space and being destroyed by rain water. It is astonishing that a person of the stature of L.K.Advani should act as an opportunist and not be able to lend his sane advice to the rank and file of the party. A party which prides itself of being the protector of the nation's Hindutva credentials and also being a true secular party seems to be acting like a rudderless ship not knowing which direction to take. The people are not fools to be taken in by all the shrill cries against misrule of UPA II as they know the BJP led NDA alliance in its previous stint fared much worse.
At least on one count the Congress Party deserves credit. They have pushed all the Opposition parties off keel. The BJP sounds like the Marxists, the CPM sounds like TMC, regional parties have their agendas. Therefore, this BJP jamborie is likely to achieve very little until they develop a coherent strategy and a vision. Latching on Anna, Ramdev, disrupting Parliament, screaming about coal gate etc does nothing to inspire the electorate. BJP has so many leaders with huge egos, each of them wanting the top post that it appears rudderless. A Bajpaye, with a moderate image is not easy in the BJP now. The congress may be corrupt but have stolen the thunder by pushing a pro-growth agenda. Their foreign policy is also pragmatic, driven by growth. Hence the push for improved ties with Pakistan and Bangledesh. What BJP does is to merely oppose the Congress, with nothing better. What a shame that Arun Shourie's suggestions fell on deaf ears in the BJP. Wake up BJP!
It is not necessary for the BJP to have any particular leader to lead the party in a general
elections. In any case neither the BJP nor the Congress has a leader of all India stature to
lead the party in the general elections. Both these parties have to fight it out at the hustings
on policies and programmes and their past performance. Of course corruption will be a major
issue. If there are corruption charges against the parties, people will know about these in this
Information Age. As of now the prestige of the Congress is in shatters and the BJP, if the
party plays its cards well, should be expected to do better than the Congress.
congress is a sinking ship, and BJP has already sinked. Their hypocracy is being exposed daily. During their regime they were going to bring FDI, and now they are crying as congress is passing this.
If the polls happen right now, I really don't think BJP is coming back to power anyways. So I'd say the best bet for BJP is to listen to Arun Shourie and just keep quiet. Congress might mess up on its own. but right now, Congress misuses power and BJP doesn't know how to handle power. I prefer Congress coz they are a lesser danger.
RSS has thrust Gadkari on the top without considering the claims of
many others who have given their life for the party. RSS still thinks
of BJP as its baby in the cradle. BJP is mature enough to make its own
choice and march ahead.BJP has got excellent leaders but they are not
presenting themselves as a united group.It is time that these leaders
got together as one face and worked to weed out all corrupt
personalities from the party quickly. It may have some negative impact
in the short run but the people will surely reward the party in the
pools.
One simple question to Mr. Gadkari:
Who is the "Prime minister" candidate for BJP?
We lost faith in Karnataka Government. Honest person like Sadananda Gowda removed and BJP top brass danced to the tunes of Yeddi. We want people like Arwind Kejriwal to come. He promised world Class Government Hospitals. Can you do it atleast in Karnataka?
(1) It is good that BJP has taken a principled stand FDI in retail. Hope it sticks to it as and when NDA comes to power. (2) More important question is how would BJP protect and further interests of consumers, traders and small kirana stores? (3) Is there any scope for reducing the gap between the price farmers get paid for their produce and final price paid by consumers? (4) Is it okay for our traders to import uncontrolled quantity of Chinese goods of doubtful quality, which is ultimately killing our local manufacturing? Has any political party, particularly those parties who are opposed to FDI in retail, have expressed any opposition to such imports? (5) Incidentally, it will be interesting to remind Mr. Gadkari as to how BJP’s opposition to Dabhol power project in Maharashtra was jettisoned by the Shiv Sena-BJP government after it was voted to power in 1999.
These suffrons are liers of this century. Earlier they said, they will build Ram Temple if Voted. People voted and they come to power, failed to construct temple. They said article 371 will be scrapped if they, they did not. BJP is in thirst and hunger for power.
BJP's only aim to come to power at any cost, if they had so much of a concern about the farmers why are they not sharing Cauvery waters with the farmers of Tamil Nadu, is it not the BJP Government in power? BJP is just another set of politicians, I am sure FDI will be re-christened if and when BJP comes to power.
Since BJP has stated that if voted to power,it will scrape FDI.So
foreign powers will play in the elections and to see that BJP will not
come to power; Suppose it comes to power ,foreign lobby will work to
retain FDI.Furter more our courts are there for the welfare of
multinational.
He first says this "had the government not forced reforms on it and
acted like a dictator, the party may have welcomed FDI in multi-brand
retail"
and then this- “BJP is of the firm view that FDI in multi-brand retail
is not in the interest of India and that is the view of NDA as well”
So BJP would have been in favor of FDI if they were asked about it by
UPA, even if it is not in the interest of India?? Why?
All the more reason to not vote BJP in power.
Height of desperation!! BJP cannot come to power with these leaders around .
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