Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing an election rally in Beed, Maharashtra
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today attacked the ruling alliance in Maharashtra, urging voters to elect a stable government led by the BJP.
"What did you get in these 15 years? Did Maharashtra progress? Did farmers benefit? Did the youth benefit? Did Dalits benefit? Did cities and villages benefit? Did women benefit? In 15 years, they have ruined a whole generation," Mr Modi said while addressing a rally in Maharashtra's Beed, the constituency of late BJP leader Gopinath Munde.
"Let's vote in large numbers and let's remember Gopinath ji while voting. Let's vote for BJP and make the Lotus bloom," he added.
Taking a dig at NCP and Congress, which has ruled Maharashtra for 15 years, Mr Modi said, "The hand and the clock were such, as the clock struck, the hand did the cleaning. Everything was cleaned off." The Prime Minister was referring to the election symbols of Congress (Hand) and the NCP (Clock).
"While Amitabh Bachchanji hosts
Kaun Banega Crorepati show, the Maharashtra government used to play
Kaun Banega Arabpati every day," the Prime Minister added.
Paying tribute to Mr Munde, Mr Modi said, "If Gopinath Munde was still around, I wouldn't have been required to come to Maharashtra. I had full faith in him. Maybe God wanted him more than I did."
Mr Munde was killed in a road accident on June 3, just days after he was sworn in as the Minister for Rural Development in the Union Cabinet led by Mr Modi.
Mr Modi, however, refrained from talking about the Shiv Sena, with whom his BJP parted ways after 25 years over seat-sharing for the forthcoming assembly polls.
Earlier, starting his campaign blitzkrieg in Haryana's Karnal, the PM said, "I want you to vote for the BJP so that it forms the government with full majority. Change is important if you want to move forward. Make Haryana free from the Congress' misrule".
He added, "All the governments in the past have brought misery; there was lawlessness (in the state). If you want change, you have to vote for me".
Mr Modi will address 8-10 rallies in Haryana and two dozen rallies in Maharashtra over the next 10 days.
Both states go to polls on October 15; counting will be held on October 19.