BJP’s popularity on decline, may hold early elections: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin

SALEM: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday launched a no-holds barred attack on the BJP, saying the popularity of the national party has been on the decline with each passing day and it may decide to hold early elections.
The chief minister challenged Union home minister Amit Shah to list the schemes and projects implemented in Tamil Nadu during the nine years of NDA government at the Centre. "Can he list out the schemes? He must do it tomorrow (at the public meeting in Vellore). He must have the courage and strength," the CM said.
Hours before Amit Shah laded at Chennai airport to address a public rally in Vellore on Sunday, the chief minister left for Salem on a three-day visit to launch welfare schemes. At a meeting of party functionaries in the evening, Stalin advised partymen not to be complacent thinking the Lok Sabha elections were only next year. "If the defeat to Karnataka continues, they (BJP) may even hold early general elections. They may want to hold an election before they are completely worn out," Stalin said, adding that Amit Shah's rally was an indication of the BJP's readiness for the general elections.
The chief minister said the Congress-led UPA regime had brought several schemes to the state between 2004 and 2013, including 14,600 crore metro rail phase I, classical status to Tamil language and 56,664 crore highways projects. He strongly criticised the Union government for not speeding up the construction of AIIMS in Madurai while it had been building AIIMS in other states.
"Why couldn't it be completed? Amit Shah has to answer this tomorrow," said Stalin, accusing the BJP government of "imposing Hindi and Sanskrit, and neglecting Tamil, introducing NEET, besides three contentious farm laws, intimidating minorities through CAA, and snatching the powers of the state".
He said, "These are the plans evolved by them for Tamil Nadu. If asked, they will say we have got the sceptre of the Cholas. The history of sceptre is known now."