FILE photo: Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi
will extract full mileage from Mani Shankar Aiyar's jibe at his tea-boy past, a remark that the latter's Congress party would like forgotten fast.
Mr Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, will launch a tea stall campaign with a visit to a tea stall in Gujarat's capital Gandhinagar, watched live by party workers and supporters in 1,000 places in the country. Simultaneously, other BJP leaders will interact with tea stall owners across the country to drive home a point.
Details of the BJP's "tea campaign" are yet to be finalised. The main opposition party has been huddled in a three-day strategy session since Friday, its last big conclave before the general elections due by May. On the first two days, top leaders rolled out the agenda for the party's attack on the Congress-led UPA.
Mr Modi addressed hundreds of people attending the BJP meet.
(Read) The party will also adopt a political resolution.
Mr Aiyar had said on the sidelines of a mega Congress conclave on Friday, "There is no way he (Modi) can be Prime Minister in the 21st century... but if he wants to come and distribute tea here we can make some room for him."
The BJP's Arun Jaitley had retorted, "The strength of Indian democracy will be proved when a former tea vendor defeats a dynasty representative."
(Read)Mr Aiyar's comment was criticised by many, including Congress ally Omar Abdullah, who warned in a tweet that such remarks would do the ruling UPA's election campaign no good. Press Trust of India quoted Congress general secretary Ajay Maken as saying yesterday, "The party does not approve of the statement."
(Read)Mr Aiyar has denied that his comment reflects arrogance or that it mocks the origins of Mr Modi, who in campaign speeches has emphasized that his family was not rich and that he sold tea on trains. Mr Modi has contrasted his background with that of the Congress'
Rahul Gandhi, whose famous last name has placed him in the centre of power in his party.