Opposition attack on Election Commission \'advance alibi\' for poll defeat: Jaitley

Opposition attack on Election Commission 'advance alibi' for poll defeat: Jaitley

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi 

Calling the attack on by opposition parties an advance alibi for defeat, Jaitley Thursday said the aspirational wants a better tomorrow and will not make suicidal choices by voting for "highly corrupt" and "temperamental mavericks".

Jaitley further said as the seventh phase of election approaches to closure, the groundswell in favour of is becoming stronger.

"Except in the last few days, not one had foreseen the velocity of this groundswell even in a state like Bengal. The largest size of the prime minister's public rallies has been in Bengal," he said.

It is on this day five years ago, the BJP-led NDA got an absolute majority in the 16th Lok Sabha elections. It was also after three decades that a single party had won absolute majority ending the era of coalition governments.

Terming opposition parties as "institution wreckers", he said their leaders represent "temperamental mavericks, some highly corrupt and many a governance disaster".

These leaders do not allow Parliament to function, attack and intimidate Judges, Jaitley said adding that the electorate wonders, if such as opposition can ever provide a cogent alternative.

Past history belies the longevity of such opportunistic and fragile combinations, he said.

The is their next target, Jaitley said.

"The attack on the EVMs and the is an advance alibi for defeat on the 23rd May, 2019," the noted.

Several opposition parties including TMC have criticised the Election Commission for curtailing election campaign period in following violence between BJP and TMC workers in Kolkata during a roadshow by the

To the electorate, Jaitley said, opposition parties provide an "absolutely frightening scenario".

"I have long argued that aspirational societies look for a better tomorrow. They are averse to suicidal choices. The frightening and scary scenario that the opposition promises will be responsible for its rout. This consolidates the groundswell in favour of Modi," he added.

The last phase of the will take place on May 19. The results will be announced on May 23.

On NDA's prime ministerial candidate, Jaitley said the positive reasons for Modi's acceptability has been his decisiveness, integrity and performance, his delivery of resources to the poor, and his security doctrine which has been a game changer.

The NDA's strength, he said, has been a complete absence of any confusion about leadership or programme.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Thu, May 16 2019. 21:21 IST