Is this the end of Modi Era ?
Describing the outcome of the byelections to four Lok Sabha and 11 Assembly seats as a slap on the face of BJP, Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu has said it indicates the strong wind blowing against the saffron party across the nation. The BJP won only one of four parliamentary seats and one of 11 Assembly seats in bypolls held across 10 States.
In a press release, Yanamala pointed out that the BJP lost three out of four Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, due to the ‘anti-people’ policies of the Modi government.
“The era of Modi will come to an end in 2019 as the BJP is going to lose the general elections. At least now, the saffron party leaders should open their eyes and change their attitude,” the Finance Minister was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile taking to Twitter, Andhra IT and Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Minister Nara Lokesh also lashed out at the BJP.
Lokesh, who is also the son of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, said, “Bye poll results across India is a sign of things to come. It is the result of BJP’s high-handedness, betrayal and misgovernance. Forget south India, BJP should save face in North India. Wake up Andhra Pradesh BJP and fight with your bosses for the state’s rights instead of spreading false data on funds allocation.”
Last month, Yanamala said that the BJP government was diluting the rights of state governments, with the help of the 15th Finance Commission.
The Finance Minister said that the state’s rights were being denied and the spirit of federalism was being damaged, despite the Finance Commission being an independent body under the Constitution.
He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ‘autocratic’ rule posed a threat to democracy in India.
Earlier this month, he hit out yet again and said that the states had hoped to get more power after Narendra Modi became PM. However, the opposite had happened.
“Shri Narendra Modi as Chief Minister of Gujarat demanded for 50% devolution of funds to states. It is not acceptable for Modi to have a particular stand as Chief Minister and act differently after becoming Prime Minister,” he had pointed out.