New Delhi: Ahead of the INDIA bloc’s third meeting in Mumbai later this month, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said he would want Rahul Gandhi to be the Opposition’s prime ministerial face, news agency PTI reported.
In an interview to the agency, Baghel said, “As a Congress man, I feel Rahul Gandhi should be the prime ministerial face.”
Unnerved by the rising popularity of Rahul Gandhi, especially in light of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, the BJP-led Central government got him disqualified from the Lok Sabha, Baghel said.
“The BJP is very scared of Rahul Gandhi, that is why he was disqualified from Lok Sabha...made to vacate his bungalow,” he told PTI.
Rahul was stripped off his membership of the Lower House following his conviction in a criminal defamation case over the use of the surname ‘Modi’.
However, he returned as an MP after the Supreme Court stayed the judgment of the Gujarat High Court, upholding his conviction by a sessions court.
The Chhattisgarh chief minister said Rahul Gandhi’s public interactions on the sidelines of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ rattled the BJP.
Baghel said the main aim of the INDIA bloc is to oust “dictatorial people from power”, adding that any differences among the partners in the grand Opposition alliance will be resolved through talks.
“Our biggest aim is to bring down the dictatorial people from power and that is why they have all come together. If there are differences, our leaders will resolve them through talks. Big party leaders are holding deliberations and are trying to work out solutions. They are all experienced people and I am sure, they will find a solution,” Baghel said amid differences within the Opposition alliance.
He added that ever since INDIA was formed, there has been unease in the BJP top brass.
“The manner in which their leaders, including the prime minister, are reacting, it is clear that they are under fear of this alliance,” the Chhattisgarh chief minister said.
Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his attack on INDIA partners, alleging corruption, appeasement and dynastic politics, Baghel said the former has different yardsticks on corruption as he keeps attacking those who are in the opposition but stops soon after they join the BJP.