JOIN USStepping up her attack on BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha on Thursday dismissed Gujarat’s projected success as a “myth”.
Speaking at an election rally, Jayalalitha said, “A myth has been created about Gujarat. Tamil Nadu’s growth has been far more impressive than that of Gujarat.”
Jayalalitha said only 11.3 per cent of people in Tamil Nadu were below poverty line, as opposed to Gujarat’s figure of 16.6 per cent.
Claiming that Tamil Nadu attracted foreign investments worth Rs 14,686 crore in 2012-13, while Gujarat received just Rs 2,640 crore, the chief minister said the state is number four in the country in terms of software exports, whereas Gujarat is in the 11th position.
Citing several growth indices, including human resources development, literacy and electricity consumers, the ruling party chief claimed Tamil Nadu was far ahead of Gujarat.
“The figures, which I have released would surprise many in India. This is the real situation,” Jayalalitha said.
Jayalalitha’s comments come a day after Modi called the BJP’s recent formation of a six-party alliance, which includes the DMDK and MDMK, an emerging viable alternative in the state. The BJP prime ministerial candidate said that the DMK and AIADMK ruled the state every five years in a “shift system”, only to harass each other.