Wading into Congress affairs, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Sunday targeted Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, saying the party wanted to make him chief minister, but did not have the courage to declare it openly.
Mr Ahmed Patel had said on Saturday, in response to Mr Modi’s earlier insinuations, that he was not interested in becoming Gujarat’s chief minister.
In his election rallies across the state on Sunday, Mr Modi said: “Ahmed Patel has been saying for past two days that he is not interested in becoming CM... What was the need to say this and why come to Gujarat to say this? ... What it means is the Congress... and all those who have entered the arena to help the Congress win, want to make Ahmed Patel CM, yet the Congress does not have the courage to tell this to the people.”
Two days ago, Mr Modi had said: “Why are they not declaring they have decided to make Ahmed Patel the chief minister? Why all these games behind the scenes? They should declare all these things.”
Mr Patel had said on Saturday he had no such ambition, and dubbed Mr Modi’s statement was one made by a “dejected and frustrated” person.