Congress has betrayed people's aspirations, says Rajnath

BJP president Rajnath Singh Wednesday accused the Congress-led UPA government of betraying people's aspirations and claimed a groundswell of support for his party.

On his maiden visit to the Uttar Pradesh capital after being named the party's candidate for the Lok Sabha polls from Lucknow, Rajnath told reporters the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would cross the majority figure of 272 seats in the polls.

Asked whether there was any ambiguity about Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi remaining the prime ministerial candidate if the BJP got a majority, he reiterated the party was clear on the issue.

He said under all circumstances Modi would be the next prime minister if the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was voted to power.

Accompanied by Shiv Kumar, personal assistant of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the three-time MP from Lucknow, Rajnath Singh disclosed that a few months back incumbent MP Lalji Tandon had volunteered to vacate the Lucknow seat for him.

Motioning to Tandon seated next to him, Rajnath said all news of Tandon being angry or upset over the Lucknow seat were misplaced.

Promising a host of measures, including promoting Lucknow as a biotech city, cleaning of river Gomti, improvement of infrastructure in the state capital, Rajnath said he was happy to be a candidate from the "karmabhoomi" of Vajpayee.

He also lashed out at the Samajwadi Party (SP)-led government and referred to the Supreme Court rap earlier in the day to the UP government, holding it prima facie guilty in the Muzaffarnagar riots.

"For the last 12 years, Modiji is being hounded for no guilt of his and here in UP, there is a government which has been slammed by the highest court of the land. This government should submit its resignation to the governor without wasting any more time," the BJP president said.

He also attacked the Congress for the economic mess in the country, poor governance, corruption and price rise.