Playing the nationalism card once again, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress party of the partition of India. Addressing a rally on the last day of poll campaigning in Latur, PM Modi appealed directly to the “first-time voters” to dedicate their first vote to those who carried out an air strike in Balakot. He said, “You are 18-year old now and you must give your vote for the country, for a strong government, to make the country stronger.” There are 1.5 crore first-time voters in the country this time, which is considered as a decisive role in winning any election. While the Prime Minister of India tries to woo the “first-time voters”, at the same time, he attempted to convince those who voted him to the power in 2014, to trust him. On many occasions, he appeared to beg for more time to fulfill expectations of the common man. A seasoned politician Narendra Modi never entrapped in disputes over unfulfilled promises. Instead of this, he opened new fronts and made new promises.
The Prime Minister and his party failed to fulfill the promises which were made during general elections in 2014. This list is long and jobs, rising prices, issue of bringing black money back to India, 33 per cent reservation to women in the Parliament and State assemblies, ensuring minimum 50 per cent profits over the cost of production for the farmers, implementation of Uniform Civil Code, facilitating the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, ensuring return of Kashmiri Pandits to Jammu-Kashmir and abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution are prominent among them.
Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader Dasharath Bhande told Afternoon Voice, “I don’t think that the first-time voters will vote for PM Modi as his government has failed to deliver the promises made by it. Unemployment has increased during the Modi government’s reign due to demonetisation.”
PM Modi on Tuesday said that Congress is responsible for the creation of Pakistan. He said that had Congress leaders acted wisely during the pre-independence era, Pakistan would not have born. He accused the Congress and NCP of standing with those who want a separate Prime Minister for Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister reiterated his allegation that the opposition parties were questioning the valour of the security forces post Pulwama terror attack. Modi also appreciated the manifesto of the BJP and said that the party is committed to national security and farmers’ welfare among others. He said to the people present in the rally that their trust is his biggest accomplishment in the last five years.
BJP MLA Sujit Singh Thakur said, “Youths of our country have faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will support him. The PM has undertaken developmental work and worked for the welfare of the common man. The government had taken significant steps to generate employment.”
On the other hand, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in an exclusive interview with ANI said, “We never said Rs 15 lakh will come to the bank accounts of people. We had said that we will take action against black money. The action is being taken against black money. It was our government which made SIT on the black money.” His statement is evidently a U-turn from the promises of BJP made in 2014.
Shiv Sena MLA Tanaji Sawant stated, “It is not possible for any government to deliver all the promises made by it to people within five years. The results of the work done by them will take one to two years. The government had constructed 1,000 kilometre expressway and many contractors and unemployed youth got employment. This year 95 per cent placement activities have taken place. New voters will vote for PM Modi. Modi government has successfully carried out Surgical Strike against Pakistan. What work has happened under the Congress government’s reign?”
However, Congress MLA Amrishbhai Rasiklal Patel asserted, “I don’t think that youth of this country will vote for Modi. You can only get elected once by making false promises but can’t make the same promises for the second time. The new generation wants employment. The government has failed to generate employment; hence, there is no question of voting for Modi.”
The country will witness the first phase of polling on April 11 for a total of 90 Lok Sabha seats including seven Lok Sabha seats of Maharashtra. These comprise Wardha, Nagpur, Ramtek, Bhandara-Gondia, Gadchiroli-Chimur, Chandrapur and Yavatmal-Washim seats. The Election Commission of India and the administration have made tight security to ensure free and fair elections.
