NDA will get 55 seats in south: Javadekar

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar at a media conference in Tirupati on Sunday. He is flanked by LS candidates K. Jayaram (Tirupati) and Daggubati Purandeswari (Rajampet). Photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar

The BJP has predicted that the southern States will add at least 55 seats to the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) kitty in the ensuing general elections.

“While the NDA and the UPA bagged 18 and 85 seats respectively from the south in 2009, it will be 55 plus and 15 this time,” the party’s national spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said at a media conference here on Sunday.

The UPA would not get a double digit figure in any of the southern States. In sharp contrast, he saw a sizeable number of seats going the way of the regional parties, which hold sway this time.

“We will get 20 seats on our own in Karnataka and we have good alliance partners in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, which will help improve our vote share. In fact, we will open our account in Kerala this time”, Mr. Javadekar said.

Corruption and inefficiency remained the hallmark of the UPA’s two regimes.

India suffered on various fronts due to a weak Prime Minister at the helm, he said, citing the book by his former media advisor Sanjaya Baru.