Varanasi: Ahead of the last phase of Lok Sabha polls, BJP on Saturday accused other parties in UP, including Congress, SP and BSP, of playing communal cards as part of their "polarisation politics" as they were suffering from "depression" and demanded the Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls in Varanasi.
Addressing the last press conference before the poll campaign came to an end in this temple town and 40 other constituencies in other parts, BJP President Rajnath Singh also said that all parties were welcome to join BJP-led NDA even after polls, although the party was confident of getting a clear majority for the existing alliance itself.
"We are already getting a clear majority. Our internal assessment shows that we have taken a clear lead on more than 300 seats and we are very much confident of crossing the magic mark of 272 seats to form a BJP-led NDA government," Singh said.
The BJP leader said that there was also a possibility of BJP on its own crossing 272-mark. "Still, if any party wants to support BJP-led NDA government, we will welcome them."
Yesterday also, BJP's general secretary and UP in-charge Amit Shah had said that BJP does not believe in political untouchability and all parties were welcome to join the alliance if they wanted to be a partner in the nation's development.
The debate about post-poll alliance was triggered after Modi indicated two days back that more allies could join the NDA. However, leaders like Mayawati and Mamta Bannejee have already said that they would not support BJP and Modi under any circumstances.
Hitting out at Congress and other parties, Singh said they were trying to play communal cards as they do not have any achievements to showcase before the voters.
"There are many political parties besides Congress who have played communal card, but today they are suffering from depression and are now trying to divert attention by talking about issues like religion to do politics of polarisation," Singh said.
"At the same time, these parties are also accusing BJP of indulging in divisive politics. The fact is that we dont need to do it and we can not do it," he said, while adding that BJP has already won many state elections in recent past on the issues of development and good governance.
Singh also said that he expected people of this country to give a clear mandate to BJP-led NDA to form the next government, so that it does not need to depend on other political parties to run the show.
Speaking about Varanasi elections, Singh said that the city's development would be a must after Modi wins from here and becomes Prime Minister, as development has become a "habit and nature" of the Gujarat chief minister.
The BJP President, however, refused to give any clear answer to repeated questions on which seat would be retained by Modi between Varanasi and Vadodara if he wins Lok Sabha elections from both the constituencies.
"All I want to say is that people of neither of the seats would be disappointed," Varanasi-born Singh said, while dropping some hints about Varanasi being retained by Modi with his remarks that the "people of Varanasi should feel proud that the head of BJP party was also from Varanasi and the head of the government (Prime Minister) would also be from here."
Asked about lack of development work in Varanasi despite he himself having sanctioned a ring road project during the last NDA regime and the BJP winning this seat for many elections, Singh blamed it on the UPA government at the Centre for the last ten years.
Fearing problems during voting, Singh said that the Election Commission should ensure fair and free polls in all remaining seats and make sure that the voting happens free of any fear or coercion.
"Reports have come in UP about some regional parties trying to create problems and there are many sensitive areas where we expect election authorities to deploy sufficient security arrangements," he said.
On Modi being denied permission to hold rally in Beniabagh area here two days ago for security reasons and Rahul Gandhi's roadshow being allowed through the same place today, Singh said that if "threat perception is more for BJP leaders and less for Congress leaders, then what justifies much greater security cover provided to the Congress leaders".
"The reasons should be logical and those which can be believed," he said.
