Senior Congress leader Janardan Dwivedi on Wednesday waded into a controversy with his praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi; triggering speculation of his joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
However, within minutes of the news website breaking the story, Mr. Dwivedi clarified that he was not leaving the Congress and maintained that he had been quoted out-of-context. The report quoted Mr. Dwivedi as stating that Mr. Modi’s victory was “bharatiyata ki jeet” (victory of Indianness) as he had been successful in communicating to the people that he was closer to them.
Admitting that he had met the journalist but insisting it was an informal conversation, Mr. Dwivedi told reporters later that what he had said was: “The Congress was facing a crisis and my sincere analysis of the situation is that the 2014 Lok Sabha elections was not a victory for the BJP or Mr. Modi but a loss for the Congress. Mr. Modi and the BJP were successful in communicating that they were closer to the people and so in a way this was a victory for Indianness.”
‘No power politics’On speculation that he was moving to the BJP, Mr. Dwivedi – who has had a long association with the Congress and is a Rajya Sabha member – said: “I do not indulge in power politics. I will not switch parties. I will only retire and that time has not come yet.”
