By IANS,
Mohali (Punjab): After having raised quite a storm in national political circles by his praise of opposition leaders like Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Saturday targeted the latter at an election rally here, though without naming him.
Criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for not thinking of the common man and coining slogans like ‘India Shining’, Gandhi made a critical reference to Naidu, though indirectly.
“In Andhra Pradesh, there was a chief minister who once said that the state did not need farmers but call centres. Even the BJP never talks about the poor people and poverty,” he said, addressing a rally in this Punjab town adjoining Chandigarh.
However, Gandhi did not mention Naidu’s name.
Gandhi had, earlier this week, praised Telegu Desam Party (TDP) leader Naidu for his policies implemented in Andhra Pradesh, as well as Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar, who is part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
His praise was seen by BJP and other opposition leaders as an attempt by the Congress to woo NDA allies for a post-poll alliance at the centre.