Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot's arrogance prevents him from learning anything from the Gujarat development model, said Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, on Tuesday.
"Yeh kya ahankaar hai? (What pride is this?)," Modi asked the crowds at Dussehra Maidan in Sawai Madhopur, 160km from Jaipur.
The Gujarat chief minister on Tuesday addressed public meetings at five constituencies of Rajasthan – Alwar, Deeg-Kumher, Sawai Madhopur, Dudu and Bandikui.
"Divisive politics is characteristic of the Congress. Divide-and-rule policy is part of their DNA. It is because of their political selfishness," Modi said.
Urging the masses to vote for a party with a development agenda, he said the public must vote out the Congress to bring Rajasthan out of the list of BIMARU states.
The Sawai Madhopur constituency has about 40,000 Muslim voters and accordingly, the Congress has fielded Danish Abrar, son of former Union minister Abrar Ahmad, from the seat. On the other hand, the BJP has fielded Diya Kumari, member of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur, from Sawai Madhopur.
Aiming towards the minority voters, Modi said Congress had always played vote-bank politics.
{{/usCountry}}Aiming towards the minority voters, Modi said Congress had always played vote-bank politics.
{{/usCountry}}But the controversial leader said when he talked of vote-bank politics, he was not talking about Muslims.
"When I say vote-bank politics, I mean that only 60% of voters cast their vote and most of them vote for small parties that are vote-cutters," Modi said.
"A person emerges winner with just 26% votes, thanks to vote-bank politics. Beware of the Congress, as vote-cutting is part of its strategy."
Exhorting the crowds to exercise their franchise, Modi said, "Pehle matdaan, phir jalpaan (first vote, then have breakfast)."