UPA is a sinking ship, nervousness visible: BJP

NEW DELHI: With reports suggesting an unease between Congress and NCP, BJP today dubbed UPA as a "sinking ship" which is being deserted by allies and said "nervousness" in the ruling party is visible as polls draw near.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley charged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of being "nervous" and "scared" with the idea of the erstwhile Amethi ruler Sanjay Singh contesting against him that forced the ruling party to nominate him to Rajya Sabha from Assam.

"As the elections appear closer, the nervousness in the Congress Party has become more visible. Each one is frantically concerned about his own position rather than wanting the Congress Party to get ready for a spirited fight," Jaitley said.

On his attack against Gandhi, he said, "The very idea that the Raja of Amethi Sanjay Singh may contest against Rahul Gandhi was enough to scare the Congress Party's de facto Prime Ministerial candidate. The Raja of Amethi had to be accommodated in the Rajya Sabha from Assam...

"In the process not only has the leader of the Congress Party displayed his personal nervousness but the party's prospects in Assam have been considerably damaged. States in the North East and Jammu & Kashmir are particularly sensitive and want their own candidates to be elected to the Parliament."

The BJP leader said Rahul Gandhi's constituency Amethi, a fortress of the Congress Party that has been nourished by the family for four decades, is being made "secure" by creating a "firewall of sorts" around it and alleged that "deals are being worked out with the SP and the BSP not to put up candidate from the minority community against the sitting MP".

To substantiate his "nervousness" claim, Jaitley said senior leaders from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh who should have been leading the Congress campaign in this election have sought nominations for the Upper House.

Earlier, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Congress is a sinking ship and its passengers are deserting it. Sonia cannot deliver. Manmohan Singh is past. Rahul Gandhi is a failure. They know how Congress and UPA have made a mess of India. Allies are seeking greener pastures elsewhere."