Rahul Gandhi a "parachuted" leader imposed on Congress, says Gujarat CM

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today termed Rahul Gandhi a "parachuted leader with no mass connect" who was "thrust upon" party workers by his mother Sonia Gandhi.

State Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki hit right back at Rupani, calling him "a CM by chance".

Addressing party workers at the Sabarmati Riverfront here, Rahul had said yesterday only genuine party workers who have fought against the BJP and its ideological parent RSS will get tickets and not those who "parachuted" into the party recently.

Taking a dig at the Congress vice president, Rupani said, "Rahul Gandhi asserted his party will not give tickets to those who parachuted into the party recently. I am surprised because he himself landed in his party by parachute. Rahul was made the leader of the party because of his Nehru-Gandhi lineage".

Addressing reporters in Gandhinagar, Rupani said even Congress workers would acknowledge that Rahul was "imposed" on them despite not having any "ground connect".

"Rahul has been projected as the leader by (Congress president) Sonia Gandhi out of her blind love for her son. Otherwise, he does not have any ground connect. And still he is talking about the parachute system. Even Congress workers know this reality," the chief minister said.

Reacting to Rupani's jibe, Solanki said the BJP leader became chief minister only "by chance".

"Vijaybhai is not aware of either geography or history. Nehru-Gandhi family is one of those rare families in the world that sacrificed themselves for their country. Indiraji and Rajivji gave their lives to keep this country united," Solanki said.

"As far as the parachute system is concerned, I want to remind Vijaybhai that Rahulji is very much connected with people. His election to the Lok Sabha from Amethi in 2004, 2009 and 2014 reflects that," he added.