In further embarrassment for Congress after its advertisement goof up on Narendra Modi, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit on Tuesday praised the Gujarat government, saying there was no doubt that development was taking place in that state.
"I am not talking about party. There is no two opinion that development is taking place in Gujarat and (because of that) government gets re-elected. Why governments get re-elected? Why they come again and again? Because they ensure development," she said, addressing a function.
Even as her remarks created a flutter, her office issued a statement saying she did not praise any chief minister but said that only the governments which delivered have been returned to power.
In her remarks in Agra, she also gave example of Assam where Congress government has been voted to power for three consecutive terms.
"I have given example of Assam also. There also development is taking place," Dikshit, who led Congress in Delhi in 2008 for third said consecutive victory, said.
"If there is a benchmark for government in this era, then it is about ensuring development and growth," said Dikshit.
In sort of self-goal in an election year, the Gujarat Congress in a Republic Day advertisement in local newspapers last week had praised Modi.
A pull-out by Congress, distributed with newspapers on the Republic Day in some parts of the state, featured Modi's photograph, and describes him as "a master organiser and astute election strategist". The state assembly elections are scheduled to be held in December.
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