Hubli|Davangere: Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge conceded on Tuesday that the Congress was unlikely to get a majority on its own in the coming elections to the Maharashtra Assembly, but claimed it would emerge the single largest party and go on to form the government in that state.
Speaking to reporters in Hubli, he said no party would get a clear majority in Maharashtra owing to the confusion caused among voters by the failed talks on seat sharing. “The Congress will however, emerge as the single largest party and a Congress- led government will come to power in Maharashtra,” he asserted, denying there was a BJP wave in the state as claimed.
Taking a potshot at the Prime Minister, Mr. Kharge told reporters in Davangere that Mr Narendra Modi was spending all his time in Mahararastra when states like Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Assam were devastated by the Hudhud cyclone and Pakistan and China were making the lives of people on the borders miserable. “Has Mr Modi set his sights on becoming the Chief Minister of Maharastra and quitting as PM?” he demanded sarcastically.
As for Mr. Modi’s claim that the Congress had done nothing for the nation over the past 60 years, Mr Kharge advised the Prime Minister to talk about the development Gujarat had seen in his 13 years as Chief Minister before pointing fingers at others. “Kerala has achieved literacy, Tamil Nadu is ahead in health care, Haryana has earned a name in industry. What is the contribution of Gujarat’s BJP government?” he asked.
Asked about the creation of a deputy chief minister’s post in the state, Mr Kharge said it was upto the party high command and the Chief Minister to take a call on this. As for the appointments to various boards and corporation, he said Mr Siddaramaiah and KPCC president, Dr G Parameshwar had held final round of talks with AICC general secretary, Digvijay Singh, and the announcement would be made soon.
