Modi Kicks Off State Battle With Eye On National Stage

[pavan_613]

[color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4]BECHARAJI/AHMEDABAD: [/size][/font][/color][url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Gujarat-chief-minister-Narendra-Modi"]Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi[/url][color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4] on Tuesday kicked off the campaign for assembly polls by focusing on development and attacking the Centre in what appeared to be a carefully chosen track to sidestep his own incumbency and soften his image with an eye on [/size][/font][/color][url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/The-National"]the national[/url][color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4] stage. Interestingly, his address was in Hindi. [/size][/font][/color]

[color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4]Modi kicked off from Becharaji, where India's largest car-maker [/size][/font][/color][url="http://www.zigwheels.com/newcars/Maruti-Suzuki"]Maruti Suzuki[/url][color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4] is planning a plant. Modi will conclude his month-long 'Vivekanand Yuva Vikas Yatra' in Sanand, already an auto hub. The day, September 11, marks 120 years of Swami Vivekananda's speech at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, apparently's Modi's pick to signal a shift from the divisive legacy that be a handicap outside the state. [/size][/font][/color]

[b]We have banned gutka, want to banish Cong: Modi[/b][color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4] [/size][/font][/color]

[color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4]BJP leaders say Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who is already in 'Sadbhavana' mode, will emphasize development to win this all-important state election, seen as stepping stone for the 2014 parliamentary polls in 2014. [/size][/font][/color]

[color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4]Not surprisingly, Modi raised many national issues to attack Congress. The CM targeted the lead UPA player, calling it a cancer, on several corruption-related issues ranging from 2G to Coalgate. "We have banned gutka in Gujarat. We want to banish [/size][/font][/color][url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Cancer"]cancer[/url][color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4] from this land. We want to banish Congress too," he said. [/size][/font][/color]

[color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4]The focus on corruption tied in with the estimate that BJP's aggression on [/size][/font][/color][url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Coalgate"]Coalgate[/url][color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4] was influenced by the considerations of polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. [/size][/font][/color]

[color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4]BJP has dodged the issue of who will be its choice for prime minister in the 2014 polls. The silence on the leadership issue is meant to avoid hurting the outsize egos and aspirations who fancy themselves as contenders. However, it is recognized that victory in Gujarat polls will boost Modi's formidable appeal among the cadre, and will place him at the head of the pack. While kicking off the yatra, Modi said, "The Congress has the habit of targeting constitutional authorities. In the [/size][/font][/color][url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/2G-Scam"]2G scam[/url][color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4] the Congress was targeting the SC which is supervising investigations into the scam and now in the Coalgate, Prime Minister [/size][/font][/color][url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Manmohan-Singh"]Manmohan Singh[/url][color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4] and UPA chairperson [/size][/font][/color][url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Sonia-Gandhi"]Sonia Gandhi[/url][color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4] are targeting the CAG." [/size][/font][/color]

[color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4]"Singh and Gandhi are following the legacy of [/size][/font][/color][url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Indira-Gandhi"]Indira Gandhi[/url][color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4] who could not tolerate opposition. She used to insult people in public for opposing her. The same is being followed today," he added.[/size][/font][/color]

[color=#3F3F3F][font=georgia][size=4]He also accused Congress-led UPA of misusing CBI for political ends, obliquely referring to the fake encounter probe.[/size][/font][/color]

[Murari]

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