Modi 'very divisive', BJP will bite dust again: Chidambaram

Finance Minister accuses BJP of raking up divisive issues like Uniform Civil Code, Ayodhya and abrogation of Article 370

Dubbing Narendra Modi as a "very divisive figure", Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said the BJP has "not changed its spots" and people will reject the party in the next Lok Sabha elections as it represents an idea which is against secularism and inclusiveness.

He accused the BJP of raking up divisive issues like Uniform Civil Code, Ayodhya and abrogation of Article 370 and people will reflect upon all these issues while voting.

Refusing to get into a discussion whether Modi as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate would be good or bad for Congress, he said his party was not fighting any individual but an idea represented by BJP which was rejected in 2004 and 2009.

He mocked at the elevation of Modi as Election Campaign Committee chief, saying he was such a divisive person that there is a "lot of rebellion" within his party, starting from the top, apparently referring to the resignation by L K Advani.

"We think Mr Modi is a very divisive figure, which is why there is a lot of rebellion within his party. For the first time I have seen there is a rebellion starting at the very top," Chidambaram told PTI.

"I think there are large sections of people in the country who will be very apprehensive of voting for the BJP if Mr Modi is their candidate. But that is the choice they have to make. But once they make their choice, the people will make their choice," the senior Congress leader added.

He was responding to a question whether Modi as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate would be good for the Congress.

"I think this is not a valid argument. Who will be the BJP's candidate is their concern. Who will the people vote for is our concern, is everybody's concern," he said.