The Congress seemed to have provided the bait that the BJP was eagerly looking for in Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's remarks on her party's game plan to keep the saffron party out in Uttar Pradesh.
"We have carefully chosen candidates so that either Congress wins or they cut into BJP's votes. Congress is not at all cutting into votes of the Mahagathbandhan," said Priyanka Gandhi Congress' general secretary in-charge of Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Later, although she clarified and said she was misreported, the damage was already done. Taking pot-shot at Priyanka Gandhi in two back-to-back rallies in UP's Pratapgarh and Basti which goes to polls in the fifth phase on May 6, PM Modi described Congress as a vote katua (cutting into votes) party. He said the Congress was trying to create a wedge between SP-BSP. PM Modi said Congress leaders have betrayed BSP chief Mayawati so cunningly that even she is not able to comprehend.
"Cutting votes, dividing the society and country, tearing up an ordinance of the cabinet have become the identity of the Congress," said Modi, referring to Priyanka Gandhi's remarks.
Trying to create a wedge among Mahagathbandhan partners, Modi accused the Samajwadi Party of going soft on the Congress and said the two parties are playing a big game against Mayawati.
He said while Mayawati is openly targeting the Congress and its policies, a Congress leader is sharing the stage with the SP and also cautioned voters that the alliance partners will be at each other's throats when the results are out on May 23.
