Oust the Congress and BJD, says Modi

BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Friday called for the defeat of the Congress-led UPA and the BJD in Odisha, saying both were "nikammi sarkars" (useless governments).

Modi told an election rally in Bolangir town, about 330 km from here, that Odisha had fallen into ruin and both the central as well as the state governments were to blame.

"Whenever there is a discussion on poverty, the example of Odisha is given," Modi said.

"Is this a matter of pride? This situation must change," he said, asking people to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) both nationally and in the Odisha assembly elections.

"These governments ... Throw them out," the Gujarat chief minister thundered, referring to the Congress and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which has ruled Odisha since 2000.

Addressing another rally in Rourkela later, Modi said people desired changed both in Odisha and Delhi.

"They want to punish those who have ruined the nation" he said.

"Naveen Babu, your days in power are numbered," he said, referring to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. And referring to Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, he said: "Shahzadeji, Madam Soniaji, it is clear how the wind is blowing."

Taking a dig at dynastic politics, he said: "This is a democracy and dynasty is the biggest enemy of a democracy.

"On one side there are those whose fathers were PMs and CMs. Here I am, from a poor family..."