The Hindu : National : “UPA campaign lacked cohesiveness”

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Tuesday, Dec 25, 2007
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“UPA campaign lacked cohesiveness”

Sandeep Joshi

Gujarat results will not have any impact on Centre, says Paswan

Congress failed to project any chief ministerial candidate
“Moditva” dangerous for the entire nation

NEW DELHI: The lack of cohesiveness in the election campaign of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance was behind Narendra Modi’s victory in Gujarat, said Lok Jan Shakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan on Monday. Mr. Modi’s dangerous agenda of communalism and Hindutva had succeeded in the State. However, the Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Steel said the results would have no impact on the Centre.

Addressing presspersons after his party’s meeting here to analyse the Gujarat election results, Mr. Paswan said despite the fact that the UPA for the first time fought elections together, there was neither any effective campaigning strategy pursued by the major stakeholder, the Congress, nor there was any coordination between the party’s Central and State leadership. The Congress failed to utilise the services of its UPA partners to counter Mr. Modi.

He also blamed the Congress for failing to project any chief ministerial candidate to challenge Mr. Modi and it was this vacuum that not only confused the electorate but also made Mr. Modi such a strong force to reckon with.

“Mr. Modi projected the contest as one between him and Congress president Sonia Gandhi or Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. So, despite such dissidence and opposition by BJP veterans and the Sangh Parivar, Mr. Modi emerged victorious.”

Mr. Paswan also said “Moditva” (Mr. Modi’s philosophy) is dangerous for the entire nation. “It is a threat to our democracy and we along with all the secular forces need to fight it,” he said. He also pointed out that whatever the BJP central leadership claimed, Mr. Modi now overshadows its national leaders. “If this is not the case then why did the BJP announce L.K. Advani as its prime ministerial candidate in the middle of the election process? What was the hurry?”

The LJP leader, however, said the victory of Mr. Modi would have no impact on the national scene. “In fact, now the instability factor that recently created some problems for the UPA government will subside. We in the UPA stand united and the government will complete its full term,” he added.

“BSP failed”

On the Bahujan Samaj Party’s performance in Gujarat, Mr. Paswan said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s “social engineering” failed miserably in the State and was not going to work elsewhere.

“All the tall claims of Ms. Mayawati have been belied. The BSP failed to get even three per cent vote share and almost all its 166 candidates lost deposits,” he added.

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