After quitting Cong, Venod Sharma heaps praise on Modi

Image
Press Trust of India Chandigarh
Last Updated : Mar 09 2014 | 4:10 PM IST
After quitting Congress, former Union minister and Ambala MLA Venod Sharma today heaped praise on BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, terming him as a man of vision who wants to take the country forward.
Sharma offered full support to any party, organisation or individual who will "help in making the Gujarat strongman the next PM".
He scotched media speculation that he was joining BSP after senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj had expressed her opposition to his entry in Haryana Janhit Congress -- an ally of the saffron party.
He, however, did not clarify whether he was joining any outfit.
Sharma had quit Congress on Wednesday after remaining in the party for four decades and forwarded his resignation to Sonia Gandhi being upset over several issues including "anti-democratic" functioning of the party.
He was speaking at a well-attended gathering on the occasion of Jan Chetna Mahayagya in Kurukshetra, about 100 km from here, an event which he had organised to mark the end of his 101-day-old 'Jan Chetna Yatra'.
Sharma was critical of Congress' functioning, including "wrong selection" of candidates for various elections and for "being soft" on leaders who had worked against the party.
His open praise for Modi indicated that doors of his entry in HJC were still open and that he could fight the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Karnal constituency, which he has been eyeing after quitting Congress.
"It is true that Modi is the prime ministerial candidate of BJP. Everyone knows he comes from an ordinary background and has on the basis of his hard work risen to a position where every section wants to see him as the prime minister. This I am saying is the feeling of common people of this country as well as my own feeling," said Sharma, once a close confidant of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
He said, "I want to make it clear that question is not with whom I am going, with whom I am joining hands and what (post or seat) I will get. Rising above politics, I want to announce that any person, any party or any section of society, who will help Modi become PM, he will have my full support and I am firm on this.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Mar 09 2014 | 4:10 PM IST

Next Story