Lok Sabha elections 2024: Why is PM Modi nervous even in BJP bastions, asks Congress

PM Narendra Modi. File Pic/PTI

Congress on Tuesday alleged that its candidates for Lok Sabha elections 2024 in both Surat and Indore were threatened, intimidated and bulldozed into withdrawing their nominations, and asked why is Prime Minister Narendra Modi "so nervous" and "afraid" even in traditional BJP bastions, reported the PTI.

The Congress' Indore Lok Sabha seat candidate Akshay Bam withdrew his nomination on Monday, a fortnight before polling in the constituency, the news agency reported.

Earlier, the Congress' Surat candidate's nomination form was rejected over discrepancies, paving the way for the BJP nominee to get elected unopposed from the seat in Gujarat.

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In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Since 1984 the Congress has not won Surat and Indore Lok Sabha seats. Yet in 2024 Congress candidates in both seats were threatened, intimidated and bulldozed into withdrawing their nominations."

"Why is the PM so nervous and afraid even in traditional BJP bastions?" he said. The Congress on Monday had said there is a "threat to democracy" and wondered if there is a free and fair poll when the Election Commission "looks the other way" while candidate after candidate is being "intimidated", according to the PTI.

PM Modi twists Rahul's statements to inflame communal prejudices: Congress

Earlier, the Congress on Sunday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "insulted maharajas but silent on atrocities of sultans" attack on Rahul Gandhi, saying that PM Modi "maliciously twists" every statement of Rahul Gandhi to inflame communal prejudices and passions, reported the ANI

The opposition party's remarks came after PM Modi on Sunday reportedly accused Rahul Gandhi of insulting India's rajas and maharajas but remaining silent on the atrocities committed by nawabs, nizams, sultans and badshahs for the sake of appeasement politics, as per the ANI.

Hitting back at the prime minister, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh wrote on X, "He (PM Modi) maliciously and mischievously twists every statement of Rahul Gandhi to inflame, incite and ignite communal prejudices and passions."

"His (PM Modi's) exit is inevitable and his realisation of that is making him more and more desperate. His campaign speeches are shameful really," Jairam Ramesh said.

Addressing a mega public rally in Karnataka's Belagavi, PM Modi said, "The Congress has ensured the writings of our history and our freedom struggle with an eye on appeasement and vote bank. Even today, the Congress' shehzade (prince)' is carrying forward that sin. You might have heard Congress' shehzade's recent statement -- he says Bharat's rajas and maharajas were 'atyachari (oppressive)'," according to the ANI.

(with PTI and ANI inputs)