TN-2ND-LD-MODI

PM says BJP open to alliances, attacks Cong for arrogance

(Eds: Adding more quotes)

Chennai, Jan 10 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi said

Thursday that the BJP is open to alliances and cherished its

old friends, in a hint that it was looking to strengthen the

NDA in Tamil Nadu ahead the Lok Sabha elections.

Slamming Congress for its "arrogance" and slighting

regional parties, Modi said that the party was haughty enough

to say that they would spring a "surprise" despite having none

to rub shoulders with in Uttar Pradesh.

In an interaction with party booth-level workers from

five districts in Tamil Nadu through video conferencing, he

recalled the "successful coalition politics" ushered in by

former Prime Minister, the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the

1990s and said the BJP's doors were "always open".

"...20 years ago the visionary leader Atal ji brought in

a new culture in Indian politics, that of successful coalition

politics. He gave utmost importance to regional aspirations...

BJP has followed the way Atal ji has shown us," Modi said.

The prime minister, in the fourth interaction with

party workers in the state, was responding to questions from a

worker on whether the BJP would ally with AIADMK, DMK or Tamil

superstar Rajinikanth, who is yet to form his political party.

The BJP had fought the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Tamil

Nadu leading a six-party alliance comprising smaller parties,

including the DMDK, the PMK and Vaiko-led MDMK, and won two of

the 39 seats -- one each by the saffron party and PMK.

However, all five parties snapped ties with the BJP

later. The prime minister said a strong NDA was "an article of

faith for us".

"It is not a compulsion. Even when the BJP won a strong

majority on its own, we preferred to run the government with

our allies. We cherish our old friends and our doors are

always open for parties," Modi said.

However, Congress had "ill-treated" regional parties, he

said, adding "What Atal ji did was in direct contrast to the

Congress which has never cared for regional aspirations.

"Congress ill-treated regional political parties,

aspirations and people because they felt they alone have the

right to be in power," Modi said.

The Prime Minister alleged that the Congress, in one of

their party meetings, had passed a resolution saying that they

do not want an alliance. "Such was that party's arrogance."

"Even today when Congress does not find a place in the

alliance in Uttar Pradesh, their leaders are back to their

arrogance and say we will surprise everyone. Well, everyone is

aware of the reality in UP," he said without elaborating

further.

He was apparently referring to the move by Samajwadi

Party and Bahujan Samaj Party to fight the 2019 Lok Sabha

elections together, leaving out the Congress from the

alliance.

On farmers' welfare, he said "our government had the

honour of bringing in a historic hike in MSP."

Hitting out again at arch rival Congress, he said those

who were in power at the Centre for so many years, "who

consider power their divine right," were never serious about

farmers' welfare.

"They never thought about taking such a farmer friendly

decision. We want to keep working for the propserity of our

farmers and are committed to doubling farmer income by

2022."

The prime minister also stressed on the importance of

connecting with the people, saying more than all the political

issues, the winning alliance was an alliance with the people.

"The strongest alliance is one with common citizens.More

than alliances we have to focus on remaining connected with

the people," he said.

BJP workers from Arakkonam, Cuddalore, Krishnagiri,

Erode, Cuddalore and Dharmapuri took part in the exercise on

Thursday.