Poll schedule seemed tailored to suit PM Modi’s campaign, says Rahul Gandhi

“I am sorry to say this but the poll schedule chalked out by the Election Commission appeared tailor-made for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign,” said Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday at the conclusion of the long drawn out campaign on Friday.

The Election Commission in this election certainly appeared biased, the Congress President said and pointed out how the Commission gave clean chits to the Prime Minister while pulling up others for similar violation of the code of conduct.

Pointing out that the BJP in this election had unlimited funds and resources at its command and unlimited TV coverage, the Congress President wished that the media had treated him also with the kind of kid gloves that they reserved for the Prime minister.

“You ask me all the hard questions. You ask me from where money will come for implementing NYAY but when it is the Prime Minister, you ask if he likes mangoes and how he wears his clothes,” he joked.

Narendra Modi, he said, had a great opportunity five years ago to take this country forward. But he squandered it and lost sight of the task he had. “He forgot that he had not been elected to give speeches and tell Indians what he thought,” Gandhi told the media and said he would have liked to see the Prime Minister address issues of joblessness, farm distress and the economy.

Expressing satisfaction over the campaign, the Congress President thanked Congress leaders, workers and his team for running a good campaign. “ I am very proud at the way the Congress fulfilled its role as a party in the opposition,” he asserted before adding that the job of the Congress as a party in the opposition was to raise people’s concerns over unemployment, rural issues and corruption.

“We have done our job. The rest is for the people of this country to decide,” he emphasised.

Refusing to speculate on the results of the election, the Congress President said that he would not like to pre-judge the verdict. “ It will be clear on the 23rd; have some patience,” he added with a smile.

Asked to comment on BJP President Amit Shah’s claim that BJP alone would be bagging over 300 seats, the Congress President smiled and said, “I am very pleased for him”.

He also complimented Prime Minister Narendra Modi for holding his first press conference today, five days before the results are due to be declared. “It’s good, very good that the PM has decided to address the Press days before his term comes to an end,” he said with just a trace of sarcasm.