Modi's "gimmicks" won't work in Karnataka: Congress

BANGALORE: Hitting back at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress today said his "gimmicks" would not work in Karnataka in the May five Assembly polls.

"Modi's campaign speeches are nothing but gimmicks and they will not work as people of Karnataka are least interested in such tricks," AICC General Secretary B K Hariprasad told reporters here.

He was responding to Modi's two rounds of campaign during which he took repeated barbs at Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Hariprasad said Modi should learn from Karnataka to take his state on the path of all-round development, not by just bringing Tata Nano plant there. "Modi should implement our model of the development which we implemented when we ruled Karnataka," he said.

Asked why Congress was unable to market its achievements as successfully as Modi, Hariprasad said the political agenda of Congress and BJP are different.

"Their agenda is abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution under which Jammu and Kashmir is enjoying a special status, bring back the Uniform Civil Code and construction of Ram Mandir. Whereas our agenda is development of all sections of the people including youth, women and suppressed people," he said.

Asked how many seats the Congress is expecting to win, Hariprasad said the party would secure majority and form the next government.

To another question, Hariprasad said the party has not changed any Chief Minister especially after Sonia Gandhi became AICC President.

"We changed Ashok Chavan as Maharashtra Chief Minister after a case was filed against him. We changed Andhra Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Ministers after their death. Whoever will be made Karnataka Chief Minister, he will rule for five years," he said.