AURANGABAD, Oct 5 (TOI) : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off the BJP's Maharashtra election campaign from Beed, assailing both the Congress and NCP for "corruption" and urging the people to give the BJP an absolute majority in the state. However, the PM avoided any mention of Shiv Sena, the party's estranged partner of 25 years, during his address in the home turf of late BJP leader Gopinath Munde.
Striking an emotional chord with the crowd, Modi recalled Gopinath Munde, saying he wouldn't have had to come to Maharashtra for campaigning had his ministerial colleague not died in a tragic car accident.
"If you want Munde's dreams to come true, ensure that the BJP comes to power in Maharashtra for the sake of development. If you elect a BJP government, it would be responsible for implementing the Central schemes while offering good governance and administration," Modi said.
Attacking the Congress, the PM said there is no difference between the NCP and Congress. "Though they have opened separate shops, they think alike, they work on the same pattern and their culture is one because they have emanated from a single source. They are not rashtrawadis (nationalist), they are 'Bhrashtacharwadi' (promoters of corruption)," he said.
"You have tolerated the Congress-led government in Maharashtra for 15 years while the same government chose to destroy the state. Now, the time has come for change and we are ready to serve you. I have come to Maharashtra to request people here to give the BJP and its smaller allies a clear mandate. I want to serve Maharashtra from Delhi. So, give a government that will help me serve the state,'' he said.
Modi urged the people in Beed to imagine Munde while casting votes for the BJP nominees. Munde's daughters Pankaja and Preetam are running for Parli assembly and Beed Lok Sabha seats.
In Aurangabad, Modi referred to the tourism potential of the district, home to the world heritage Ajanta and Ellora caves. "After the Taj Mahal, only Aurangabad has the potential to attract large number of tourists from across the world. Efforts are required for improving infrastructure and developing adequate facilities to boost tourism in Aurangabad,'' he said.
The BJP's 14 nominees from Aurangabad and Jalna districts attended the campaign meeting. The PM said Maharashtra was the No. 1 state in the country, but the 15-year Congress rule dragged it down to the 15th place in terms of development, 12th in terms of literacy and 6th in terms of employment opportunities.
Modi referred to the Jan Dhan Yojana, reduction in prices of diesel and petrol and his efforts to reduce the rate of inflation. The PM also said he had talked to the Chinese President during the opening of the road to Kailash Mansarovar. "The Chinese President has agreed, and now even elderly people will be able to visit Kailash Mansarovar by car," he said. He also referred to his recent US visit and said the world has now begun to recognize the strength of the country.
Concluding his speech, the PM asserted the need for both "political and sanitary cleansing" in Aurangabad. He said hygienic environment was essential for tourism and people now need to think who would change the fate of the state.
Modi said he had been to Aurangabad in the past, but by witnessing the response of people he could predict which direction the wind was blowing. Concluding his speech, like he did in Beed, he urged people not to leave any garbage on the ground. "Take along the things like empty water bottles you have brought with you. It's essential for us to maintain cleanliness," he added.