Congress has accepted defeat as it plans to support Third Front: Modi

Ahmedabad: In a conversation with reporters that has since become controversial, the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi today said the Congress has already accepted defeat as the party plans to support a Third Front government at the Centre to keep him out of the race.

"The Prime Minister, the Finance Minister and other senior ministers are not in the contest. Tall leaders of the Congress are running away from elections," Mr Modi said, after voting in Ahmedabad this morning.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram has chosen to sit out these elections in favour of his son Karti contesting his Tamil Nadu seat. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a Rajya Sabha MP.

Senior Congress leaders have suggested that their party, said to be facing the prospect of its worst ever electoral performance this time, is open to supporting an alliance of parties to keep the BJP from forming the government.

He avoided a direct answer to repeated questions on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's focused attacks on him in the last few days, saying instead, "Now, some are trying to save their chair, some are trying to save themselves and some are trying to save the prestige of the Congress party."

Priyanka, the daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the sister of party number 2 Rahul Gandhi, is attempting a late fight back for her party and has repeatedly targeted Mr Modi while campaigning in the constituencies of her mother and brother.

An early voter, Mr Modi cast his ballot at Nishan School polling booth in Ghatlodia area of the city, part of the Gandhinagar constituency from where BJP veteran LK Advani is contesting.

The Congress has complained to the Election Commission against Mr Modi addressing the media outside the polling booth, alleging that he has violated election rules.

Mr Modi said that five years time will be enough for him to turn around the fate of the country.

"When I came to Gujarat, the state was devastated from earthquake in 2001. The tragedy occurred in January (2001) and I became Chief Minister in October. But in three years only, the state stood up and now the state has been chasing the path of development," he said in reply to a question on if 60 months will be enough for him.

The BJP's PM nominee has been saying in his rallies that "you have given 60 years to Congress, give me a chance for 60 months."

Holding his party's lotus symbol, Mr Modi said, "I have been understanding the trend of the election campaign and the psyche of the people. I am the only person who has campaigned throughout the entire country for the elections. That is why I can give a first-hand account.

"Two things are clear. Mother-son government is going and the voters have put a strong base for the new government. I think BJP will get more seats than it has ever been bagged by any party in the last 25 years."

He further said, "Now, this voting is to strengthen the foundation of the new government. In such heat this high percentage of voting shows that the elections are for new hope, for new trust. The elections will give a strength to the country and give an opportunity to change country's fate."

Asked about personal attacks during the campaign, he said, "Even today we repeat the agenda of development and good governance. From the day one we have given this agenda and we stick to that."

Mr Modi said, "When you go to cast your vote, do not forget Nirbhaya, do not forget unemployed youth, do not forget the farmers who committed suicide and do not forget our jawans who were beheaded by Pakistan. Do not forget the atrocities of last ten years."

Addressing the people of Gujarat, he apologised to them for not being able to give much time for campaigning in the state and urged them to vote in large numbers.