Anand (Guj): Senior BJP leaders would turn on Prime Minister Narendra Modi if the results of the upcoming Assembly elections in five states were not favourable, Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Monday said, even as he conceded that the Gujarat polls would be the last chance for his party. Patel accused Modi of running the Central government like a “dictator” and said senior BJP leaders and cabinet colleagues were waiting for an opportunity to turn on him.
“On radio, he (Modi) talked about republic and democracy. Narendra bhai has nothing to do with this. All he knows is dictatorship. (When he was Gujarat CM) Nobody from BJP or those in the cabinet could raise voice against him.
“BJP leaders are quiet for now, but they are waiting to take out their swords. Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Murli Manohar Joshi, (Arun) Jaitley are waiting for the results of elections in five states. Lal Krishna Advani has been waiting for longer,” Patel, political adviser to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, said.
Elections have been announced in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.
“They (BJP leaders) are fed up. Government officials are fed up because he (Modi) holds meeting everyday and won’t let anyone speak. He has no interest in what impact his decisions have on public, country’s economy, all he craves is publicity, a chance to speak,” he said in a veiled attack on the Prime Minister over the decision of demonetisation. (PTI)
