PM's position untenable as Jaiswal says he can be replaced overnight: BJP

BJP on Monday attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying his position is "untenable" as reflected in the statement of his cabinet colleague that he can be replaced overnight if the Gandhi family decides.

"One can understand how untenable the position of the prime minister has become from the fact that his own minister has said he can be replaced overnight," Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said.

He was addressing a rally of BJP booth level workers in Delhi at Ramlila grounds.

Jaitley was referring to Union Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal's statement at a public rally in Mathura on February 25 that Rahul Gandhi can become prime minister overnight by replacing Singh if he so wishes but he does not want to be PM.

"Rahul Gandhi can become Prime Minister at 12 tonight, he can administer the oath of office and no one can stop that. But neither does he want to become the Prime Minister nor the chief minister," Jaiswal had said.

Jaitley said the Central government is unable to give direction and leadership to the country.

"There is an anti-Congress wave throughout the country. This will become clear on March 6 when the results of the Assembly elections come out. Corruption is at its peak. Congress has ended the credibility of the central government," he said, asking BJP to make the most of this opportunity to take on the government.

Meanwhile, Led by LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Jaitley and M Venkaiah Naidu, BJP blew the poll bugle at the rally for the forthcoming urban local body elections in Delhi.

Buoyed by its recent victories in local body elections in Mumbai, Nagpur and Thane in Maharashtra, the BJP leaders hope for a similar performance in the national capital.

"The ruling party (Congress) has helped us to such a great extent by giving us several issues that if we lose, it will be due to our own fault," Advani said.

Swaraj said while highlighting issues of corruption, black money, FDI in retail, reservation on religious lines, and lack of law and order, the party should also set aside internal differences and work together.

"Only one ticket can be given for a seat. Those workers of the same level who do not get a ticket should not feel neglected. A new culture has developed that those who do not get the ticket gang up and work towards finishing off the candidates chances. While doing so they end the chances of the party too," she said.

Naidu administered the victory pledge to party workers to "work tirelessly, unitedly and with single-minded determination to oust the corrupt and anti-people Congress governments both in Delhi and at the Centre".