BJP to emerge as single largest party in southern states, asserts Amit Shah

New Delhi [India], May 11 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party will emerge as the single largest party in the southern states, including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala when the results will be announced on June 4.
Addressing a press conference in Telangana's Hyderabad on Saturday, Amit Shah expressed confidence in BJP "making a sweep" in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana where the voting is scheduled to be held on May 13 in the fourth phase.
"In the last three phases of the election, the BJP-led NDA and its constituents have reached the mark of 200 seats. We expect good results from the fourth phase too, and we will move towards our goal of 400 seats. The polling in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is scheduled in the fourth phase. In both the states, NDA and BJP will make a clean sweep," Shah said.
"On the day of results, that is on June 4, the BJP will emerge as the single largest party in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In these states, the BJP will get the most number of seats. In Telangana, we will win more than 10 seats," he added.
Shah also hit out at the Congress party and its alliance partners accusing them of corruption worth crores as he highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 10-year tenure.
"On one hand, there is the Congress and its allies who are involved in corruption and scams worth around Rs 12 lakh crores. On the other hand, there is Narendra Modi, who has not been accused of corruption of even 25 paise despite being the Chief Minister for 23 years or Prime Minister for 10 years," the Home Minister said.
He further emphasised that under PM Modi's leadership, the Indian economy is in 5th position globally.
"As soon as the heat increases, some leaders regularly go on holiday to Thailand, Bangkok. On the other side is Narendra Modi who has not taken leave even on Diwali day for the last 23 years. On Diwali, he celebrates with the soldiers who protect the country on the borders," he said.
"The economy of India has been handled expertly by Modi ji. We are fortunate to have a leader like Modi Ji. On the other hand, Rahul Yaan has been launched unsuccessfully 20 times and an attempt is being made to launch him for the 21st time," Shah said.
Lashing out at the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana and the Congress party, Shah accused both parties of indulging in vote bank politics and "derailing the development" in the state.
"When Telangana state was formed, it was revenue surplus. However, today, it's under huge debt. The governments of BRS and Congress have derailed the development of Telangana. In the last 10 years, Modi ji has done a lot for the development of Telangana. Congress and BRS indulge in the politics of the vote bank, and they are neck-deep in corruption. Parivarvaad, corruption, bad governance and appeasement are four malices that have caused a lot of trouble to the people of Telangana. I'm sure that this time, the people of Telangana will give us a record number of MPs from the state," Shah asserted.
The BJP leader also took a dig at All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi and alleged that the "steering wheel" of the Telangana government is in the hands of Owaisi.
"The steering wheel of the govt of Telangana is in the hands of Owaisi, irrespective of whether the government is of BRS or Congress. Both these parties, to forward their agenda of appeasement, have outsourced the running of the government to Majlis," he said.
Shah pointing out the interim bail given to Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal said that the CM has to surrender on June 2 and it is not a "clean chit".
"The Supreme Court has given interim bail to Kejriwal only for the election campaign. He had filed a case in the Supreme Court that my arrest was wrong, which the Supreme Court did not accept. Then he modified it to grant me bail, but that too was not accepted by the Supreme Court. He has been granted bail till the 1st date only to campaign for the elections and has to surrender again on the 2nd. If Arvind Kejriwal considers this a clean chit, then his understanding of the law is very weak," he said.
CM Kejriwal was released from Tihar Jail on Saturday after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail till June 1 to participate in electioneering for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
On CM Kejriwal's remarks on Shah being PM if BJP wins pointing out PM Modi turning 75, Amit Shah said that there is no confusion in BJP and that PM Modi will continue to lead the country in future.
"I want to say this to Arvind Kejriwal and company and INDI alliance that nothing as such is mentioned in BJP's constitution. PM Modi is only going to complete this tenure and PM Modi will continue to lead the country in future. There is no confusion in BJP," Shah said.
Earlier in the day, CM Kejriwal questioned "Modi's guarantee" as he pointed out that the Prime Minister is turning 75 this year and a possibility of his retirement.
"These people ask the INDIA alliance who will be their Prime Minister. I ask BJP who will be your Prime Minister? PM Modi is turning 75, on 17th September. He made a rule that leaders in the party would retire after 75 years. LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Sumitra Mahajan, and Yashwant Sinha were retired and now PM Modi is going to retire on 17th September. If their government is formed, they will first dispose of Yogi Adityanath and then make Amit Shah the Prime Minister of the country. PM Modi is asking for votes for Amit Shah. Will Amit Shah fulfil Modi's guarantee?," Delhi CM Kejriwal said.
The voting in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh will be held in a single phase on May 13 in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The polling is held in 17 seats in Telangana and 25 seats in Andhra. The assembly elections for 175 seats in the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly will also be held on the same date. The results will be announced on June 4.