Karnataka crisis: Congress a sinking ship, hence MLAs deserting it, says BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Congress is a sinking ship whose captain Rahul Gandhi is deserting it, senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Sunday.

The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister's statements came after 10 Congress MLAs resigned from the Karnataka assembly on Saturday. Chouhan also said that  MLAs quitting was due Rahul Gandhi deserting the ship.

"Congress is a sinking ship and Rahul Gandhi who is it's captain is deserting it. When the captain will flee, the Congress MLAs will not be behind in fleeing," Chouhan said launching Delhi BJP's membership campaign at JLN stadium here.

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The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister also unleashed attacks on former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi, charging them of "weakening" the country. After the resignations, the Congress coalition government in the state was reduced to a minority. Chouhan also took dig at the names of Congress leaders taking rounds as a replacement of Gandhi.

"There are names of leaders like Motilal Vora who is around 100 years of age and Ashok Gehlot whose son lost the Lok Sabha elections. In such a situation, party workers and leaders have no option but to leave it," he said.

Chouhan lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for building the nation and alleged that Congress Prime Ministers Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajeev Gandhi "weakened' the country.

"It was due to Nehru that two-third of Kashmir is under Pakistan occupation, Indira strangulated democracy, Rajeev Gandhi in Shah Bano case deprived Muslim women their rights, and this mother-son (Sonia-Rahul) duo were involved in corruption when Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister," Chouhan said.

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Congress is "dying" of it's "evil deeds", he stated. Eulogizing the leadership of Modi-Shah, he also took a dig at Akhilesh and Mayawati.

"People were saying what will happen in UP in Lok Sabha elections, BJP will get 20-25 seats. But what happened, Mayawati said votes were not transferred to BSP. How would SP do it, when even Akhilesh's wife lost the elections. The voters had lined up in support of Modi."

Chouhan has asked BJP workers to reach out to all sections of the society during the membership drive and cover all polling booths in view of Assembly elections in Delhi early next year.

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