Congress is clear on Rahul's capability for PM post: Sushilkumar Shinde

Vadodara: Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Sunday said that while Congress is clear about the capability of Rahul Gandhi for the post of the Prime Minister, the BJP is still undecided over its candidate. "Congress is clear on the suitability and capability of party general secretary Rahul Gandhi for the post of Prime Minister. Senior and young party leaders have been projecting him for this post," Shinde said on Sunday.

"However, BJP is undecided about its prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 General elections. BJP keeps on talking about LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh and Narendra Modi for the post," he said. He was addressing a public meeting in Tulsidham crossing area in Manjalpur under the newly-created Manjalpur Assembly constituency in Vadodara on Sunday night.

Attacking Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Shinde said when he was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in 2003, Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat in the same year and while Modi continues to be the CM, he was made the Governor of Andhra Pradesh and later the Union Minister.

He also took on the BJP saying the party has yet not been able to decide its PM candidate for 2014 General Elections.

"This shows Modi has not moved to any other position and has not made any progress in politics," he said. Shinde, who earlier held power portfolio at the Centre, alleged that the Gujarat government was not supplying power to farmers but "selling it" which was being allocated to the Gujarat state from central power sector projects.

He alleged that Modi was spending huge amount of money over publicity for creating his image. Raising question over Modi's claim over the state's development, Shinde said if it is so, then why there are 10 lakh unemployed youths registered in Gujarat.

He also asked that why applications of 10 lakh farmers in Gujarat have been pending for power connections for irrigation purpose. He said in 1995, when the Congress was in power in Gujarat, 2.15 lakh persons were employed in the government services, however, this number has declined to 1.60 lakhs during 11 years of Modi regime.

Shinde said exit of former chief minister Keshubhai Patel from BJP "indicated the style of functioning of Modi." "Modi tried to mislead people by making false claims of development in the state, but people of Gujarat have realised it and the defeat of his government in the Assembly poll is certain," Shinde said.

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