Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram has congratulated AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on becoming Chief Minister for the fifth term even as he ridiculed the series of yagams and padayatras carried out by the AIADMK cadre for her return as Chief Minister.
Addressing a public meeting here on Saturday night on one-year BJP rule at the Centre, Mr Chidambaram said, “Ms. Jayalalithaa has assumed office as Chief Minister for the fifth time and I congratulate her.”
He, however, took a dig at the series of yagams, padayatras and processions organised by the partymen for the past six months praying her return. “This has lessened my belief in God,’ he said.
Cash for votes
Expressing serious concern over “cash for votes” culture dominating the electoral arena, the former Finance Minister said the Congress had fought the Lok Sabha elections showcasing its 10 year achievements “but Rs. 200” (paid per vote) defeated everything.
“It was more than Rs. 200 in the by-elections held recently in Srirangam and the talk now is whether it would be Rs. 500 or Rs. 1,000 per vote in the coming assembly elections,” he said and warned that democracy would be in peril if the trend continued.
The cash-for-vote culture would also embolden politicians that they could win the elections without doing anything for the people, provided they had the money, he noted.
Launching a tirade against the Modi government, Mr. Chidambaram said he was criticising the BJP government for the first time as it had completed one year.
Mr. Modi who came to power with the slogan “Achche din anewale hain” disappointed the people who voted for him, he said.
He disappointed farmers, educated youth and students. Mr. Modi made 18 foreign trips in one year, bothering little about the country, Mr. Chidambaram said. The Modi government drastically cut down education loans and betrayed farmers with its land acquisition bill and procurement policy, he charged.
