Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot confident of Congress win in five states

Ashok Gehlot. File Pic

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday exuded confidence that the Congress would form governments in all five poll-bound states, including Telangana, even though the BJP-led Centre was 'misusing' the central agencies against the opposition leaders, reported news agency PTI.

Citing feedback from the ground, he told reporters in Hyderabad that the Congress is going to win everywhere, reported PTI.

Had a Congress government been formed in Telangana 10 years ago after party leader Sonia Gandhi fulfilled the promise of creation of a separate state of Telangana, it would have reached greater heights, he claimed, reported PTI.

Accusing the BRS government in Telangana of failing to provide good governance since 2014, Ashok Gehlot said now reports of a tacit understanding between BRS and BJP are emerging, reported PTI.

Dismissing PM Narendra Modi's allegation about question paper leak in Rajasthan, he said similar leaks were reported in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and also in Telangana, reported PTI.

He added that Rajasthan has passed a law to penalise those indulging in paper leaks with life imprisonment, reported PTI.

The Rajasthan CM charged the union government with misusing central agencies like ED and CBI. "We welcome it if someone does (deeds of) dishonesty... But, if you do it with politically revengeful attitude to bring down or to form governments...," he said, reported PTI.

Gehlot further alleged that no action has been initiated against economic offenders in the country and some of them have even fled, reported PTI.

"First send ED... threaten, then make friends. What happened in Madhya Pradesh? Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, all three elected governments have been dislodged. Is this democracy?" he asked, reported PTI.

Such attempts were not successful in Rajasthan, Gehlot said.

"What is happening in the country is dangerous to democracy," the Congress veteran said, claiming that the credibility of agencies is being hurt badly, reported PTI.

PM Modi campaigns extensively in states where elections are held unlike his predecessors who addressed only a couple of rallies in a state, he said. There used to be lot of credibility to the visits of PM then, he recalled, reported PTI.

Taking a swipe at PM Modi's Tejas jet sortie in Bengaluru recently when polling was held in Rajasthan, Gehlot asked "Did he get the same day (to undertake the sortie)?"

(With inputs from PTI)