'Choose between NDA or chaotic coalition'

A day after Rahul Gandhi refused to back a Third Front, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Sunday said the people of the country have two choices: vote for the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) or a “chaotic coalition”.

Jaitley, in his campaign diary on Sunday, wrote Rahul had categorically made it clear that the Congress would not support the Third Front. He added that CPM leader Prakash Karat has said a secular combination at the Centre would require the support of the Congress.
“The Left hopes for an indecisive mandate. Their best-case scenario is a situation where everybody else gangs up to keep the NDA out,” said Jaitley, wondering whether Trinamool Congress, the DMK, the AIADMK, the SP, the BSP and the Left parties could be part of the same coalition.

He said political parties who occupy the non-Congress space in their states will find it impossible to side with the Congress at the Centre. “If they did side with the Congress in Delhi, they would end up conceding their non-Congress space to the BJP,” said Jaitley, adding that the best-case scenario for the Congress is a rag-tag coalition to keep Modi out.

“The choice now is clear. It is either a Modi-led NDA or a chaotic coalition. Obviously, a chaotic coalition cannot be an option,” said Jaitley.

The BJP leader expressed hope that it was unlikely the Indian electorate would give a half-hearted mandate this year. “If the NDA gets majority on its own or is within striking distance, the Congress need not take the trouble of cooperating with the Third Front. The NDA (government) will then be a reality,” said Jaitley.

The BJP leader also attacked Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for having a “nominal” relationship with his constituency Amethi.

“The relationship of Amethi with its sitting MP is nominal. Despite having been a (Gandhi) family stronghold for decades, Amethi remains one of the most backward constituencies,” he said, adding that voters of the constituency were never presented with an alternative.
The BJP has fielded its vice-president Smriti Irani against Gandhi. The Aam Aadmi Party’s Kumar Vishwas is also contesting from there.

“The situation is ripe for strong anti-incumbency against the sitting MP,” he said, adding that a vote for the AAP would only divide the anti-incumbency.

Jaitley said that with a formidable candidate in place and a Modi campaign to back it, Amethi should be ready for a surprise.