Sudheendra Kulkarni, former aide of senior BJP leader L. K. Advani, on Saturday said the people across the country were looking for a change in the political leadership and a coalition led by the BJP would form the next government at the Centre.
“There is a strong desire for change among the people…a hunger for change after a decade of UPA rule at the Centre. The Congress may not even get 100 seats,” Mr. Kulkarni said.
Speaking on ‘Political scenario – during and after 2014 elections,’ Mr. Kulkarni, who quit the BJP, said Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi would become the Prime Minister if the BJP was able to get 200 seats.
Noting that the third bloc was not yet born, he said factors such as “weak” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, absence of strong leadership in the Congress, slow economic growth would help the BJP secure more seats.
However, the UPA provided political stability to the country during the last one decade and its performance was admirable in the social sector. Besides increase in the life expectancy of men and women, the gross enrolment ratio in higher education was up from 11 per cent to 19 during the UPA I and II.
But absence of a credible leadership would reduce the Congress to a two-digit number in the 16th Lok Sabha, he said.
“But still we should not write off the Congress and its vice-president Rahul Gandhi.” Mr. Gandhi has been making a last minute attempt to bring transformation in the party and the government,” Mr. Kulkarni said.
Noting the credentials of Mr. Modi, Mr, Kulkarni said the Gujarat Chief Minister had not tendered an apology for the communal riots took place in that State in 2002. “India needs a secular Prime Minister who can lead the country,” he said.
