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UPA is on a 'suicidal path', says Advani
With Narendra Modi's absence bringing the rift within the party to the surface, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday went on an overdrive to speak on the need for "unity" in the party, saying early polls cannot be ruled out on account of the government being in a "suicidal mode".
Modi kept away from the national executive on the second and concluding day of the meet, but top leaders denied there was any rift between the Gujarat chief minister and L K Advani on the issue of his yatra later in October that has become a source of friction between the two.
In his valedictory address, Advani said, "There is a crisis of governance and this government is in a suicidal mode. We do not need to disturb it".
"The government is full of corruption and does not deserve to be in office. We must gear up as you never know what is in the offing," he said.
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'We have to learn from the mistakes of Congress'
Leaders of Opposition in both Houses of Parliament -- Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley --also spoke on similar lines, saying the party should be ready for mid-term polls with a "united and clean" face.
"We also have to learn from the mistakes of the Congress. We need to have a clean image, ensure unity in the party, bring all allies together, and perform our role as the opposition to prepare ourselves for forming an alternative government," Swaraj said.
While briefing the media, Jaitley denied that Swaraj was hinting at the rift between Modi and senior BJP leader L K Advani.
"She was emphasising on unity. There are no issues between Modi and Advani. Asking the party to maintain a clean image and stay together is a very natural thing. Most of our leaders have spoken about it and rightly so. It is wrong to see this differently," Jaitley said.
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'Comment of desperation by the prime minister'
The national executive adopted a five-page resolution attacking the government, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram over the 2G scam and claimed there was a "civil and uncivil war" between ministers.
When the BJP exposed the series of scams and acts of corruption, the prime minister suddenly accused the Opposition of trying to destabilise the government and forcing a mid-term poll, it said.
"This is a comment of desperation by the prime minister designed to divert attention from the main issue," the resolution said.
Jaitley, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said, "There is a question mark for all of us on which way the future of the politics in this country is headed. There does not appear to be much confidence that this government will survive till 2014. Our leaders emphasised that the party should be prepared for all possibilities."
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The govt is 'dysfunctional'
While emphasising this issue, his Lok Sabha counterpart Swaraj appeared to be sending across a message to Modi as well, as she insisted on the need for winning more allies for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and staying united if the party wanted to make a serious bid to come to power.
Lashing out at the government, Advani said it is "dysfunctional" and the people were "fed-up" with it.
Advani, who is all set to take out a yatra for "good governance and clean politics" from October 11, insisted that the party would strive to create awareness among the people about corruption and price rise.
The conclave discussed the strategy for the forthcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Punjab.
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BJP resolution slams the UPA
Even as the BJP attacked the government, it faced dissensions in its ranks too with two former chief ministers, B S Yeddyurappa and Ramesh Pokhriyal, besides Modi keeping away from the conclave on the first day.
While Modi and Yeddyurappa are still sulking, Pokhriyal came to the meet on Saturday after the BJP conveyed to him that he is being made a vice-president of the party.
In its political resolution, the BJP attacked the government on several fronts.
The party accused it of not being serious in the fight against corruption, pointed out that terrorism continued unabated and dubbed the new BPL category with the benchmark of Rs 32 (daily earning) as an insult to the poor.
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'Revulsion has set in against the government'
"The style of governance is one of arrogance, smugness and intolerance. With the prime minister there was always a loss of authority, now there is also a loss of confidence in dealing with the situation," Jaitley said.
Swaraj alleged that the UPA government has lost its popularity due to spiraling prices and lost its face due to corruption.
"Revulsion has set in against the government. There is a feeling of intolerance," Swaraj said.
She contended that as the principal Opposition, it was the BJP's "national responsibility" to be prepared for this challenge.
"Governance issues dominated the two-day discussions at the national executive. There is a sense of drift in the government. Corruption is a big issue and most members mentioned it. Government calculations on economic issues made at the time of the budget are going haywire," Jaitley said.