Lok Sabha Elections: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be at the centre of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, and whether what he stands for is for the good of the people of the country will be the subject matter of the elections.


In an interview with news agency PTI, Sibal said that the opposition needs to come out with a joint vision document that entails what key issues are there before the country that need to be addressed. Sibal asserted that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc needs a vision for the future which is different from what the BJP is relying on.


On being asked if the opposition needs a joint vision document, Sibal said, "I think they need something like that. I think they are talking about a joint minimum programme. A joint minimum programme, according to me, is not enough. It is a minimum programme as far as what you will do. A broad vision of what the issues are before this country that need to be addressed (is what is required)," as quoted by PTI.


On being questioned as to what is the answer to Narendra Modi versus who, Sibal said, "I think in 2024, Narendra Modi will certainly be at the centre of the election. What Narendra Modi ji stands for will be at the centre of the election, and whether what he stands for is for the good of the people of India and the future is the subject matter of this election in the months to come," he said.






The former Congress leader said that the vision document need not have 50, 40, or 30 issues; just five major issues that need to be looked at and are different from those the BJP tom-toms about, would be enough. He noted that the real issues in this country include massive unemployment, a lack of education, and empowerment through education and health.


"Three things that empower an individual are education, health, and values. The values that we see under the BJP, the kind of violence and hate that is being generated in society, are not things that will make this nation great," Sibal said, as quoted by PTI. He claimed that the real issues of the people are not being addressed.


"What is being addressed through the media is that as if we are already at the cusp of a Viksit Bharat, but the fact of the matter is that our per capita income, even among the BRICS countries, is the lowest," the former Congress leader said.


"Something should emerge that attracts people. Something that touches the people and you don't need big propaganda machinery for that. What you need is honesty and sincerity for that; talk about real issues that impact the lives of the people," Sibal said.


Speaking to PTI, Sibal asserted that no election is a done deal and said that he is not sure whether or not there is more to the film, but the one that is playing is not good for the country.


"I don't know whether picture baki hai ki nahi lekin jo picture chal rahi hai woh desh ke liye theek nahi hai (I don't know whether or not there is more to the film, but the one that is playing is not good for the country)," the former Congress leader said. 


On being asked about the I.N.D.I.A. bloc losing its way with JDU chief Nitish Kumar crossing over to the NDA and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee going solo in the polls, Kapil Sibal stated that negotiations with Banerjee were still on and that was not an issue.


"As far as Nitish Kumar is concerned, the nature of politics in this country today allows for all this to happen, nobody trusts anybody else. It is unfortunate that the level of politics has reached its nadir, as reflected not just by one individual but by the nature of politics in this country, where people just cross over for reasons you and I know which need not be stated publicly," the Rajya Sabha MP said.






"As long as politics of this nature thrives in India, I don't think we have much hope for the delivery of essentials to those people who are at the bottom of the pyramid," he asserted.


On PM Modi's claim that the saffron party will get at least 370 seats and the NDA would cross the 400-mark, Sibal took a swipe, saying the Prime Minister probably has more information on this count than he has. Sibal attacked the Centre and said, "I guess he knows what the machines will do. If he says so, if he says 370 or 400, he must be very certain or he must be knowing how the people will vote, how machines will count the vote and it will all come out as 400".


Asked about the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Sibal said, "It is fine. If they (Congress) think it will galvanize the people, why not."