PM Narendra Modi uses Centre as ‘election machine’ for Gujarat polls, says Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said chief ministers and PM should be barred from undertaking electoral campaigns

A day before the Gujarat poll results, Shiv Sena didn’t hold back from attacking ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut (HT FILE)

Sena MP Sanjay Raut, in his Sunday column in party mouthpiece Saamana, targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for using government machinery and funds for BJP’s campaign in Gujarat. The column, titled ‘Swans have been revealed as crows’, argues that the country’s exchequer has been looted for the last 50 years by the Congress and this trend has continued in the BJP regime.

“Modi took out 40 to 45 rallies in Gujarat. He made use of government airplanes, helicopters and state machinery worth crores of rupees in this campaign. The central government has been transformed into an ‘election machine’ with the entire cabinet being utilised for campaigns,’’ said Raut in his column.

He also said that it was high time that there were some restrictions and curbs on such blatant use of government machinery and chief ministers and PM should be barred from undertaking electoral campaigns. Raut claimed that campaigning for the Gujarat polls reached a new low as there was mud slinging by the Opposition primarily because the PM entered the poll arena.

He also took on the BJP over the alleged expenditure of Rs3,500 crore on government advertisements saying that the BJP government was revealing its true colour through such gimmickry.

Raut’s column comes a day after Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had said there was no point in supporting the BJP government in the state if it has failed to deliver on its promises to citizens. Earlier, his son and party’s youth leader, Aaditya Thackeray had said that Sena will part ways with the BJP next year and form a government on its own after the 2019 polls.