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Modi's entry on national scene will split NDA, says Vaghela

Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW: Union Textile Minister and former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela said on Wednesday that the entry of Chief Minister Narendra Modi on the national scene would cause a division in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Mr. Vaghela was responding to a query on the reported decision of the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership to include Mr. Modi's name in the list of leaders who will campaign for the party in next year's Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Mr. Vaghela, who was formerly in the BJP, told reporters that it was for that party to decide whether it wanted to present a moderate leadership and pursue moderate line or project hardliners on the national political scene. The Union Textile Minister dubbed the BJP as a party of tired leaders.

As for the Congress Party's electoral prospects in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Vaghela claimed that the party was improving its ratings.

However, Mr. Vaghela saw nothing wrong in some State Congress leaders playing the `B' team of the ruling Samajwadi Party and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

He said there was no way out for parties playing the support role as they are often dubbed as "B" team, much in the same manner in which the Left parties have often been categorised as the "B" team of the UPA Government.

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