News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Rediff.com  » Election » JD-U blames Varun, Modi for NDA's defeat

JD-U blames Varun, Modi for NDA's defeat

By Syed Firdaus Ashraf in New Delhi
May 17, 2009 14:19 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
As leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance tried to come to terms with its rout in the Lok Sabha poll, the Janata Dal-United, the BJP's coalition partner, lost no time in pinning the blame on the party.

JD-U chief Sharad Yadav on Sunday felt that controversial BJP leaders like Varun Gandhi and Narendra Modi could have spelt doom for the alliance.

"Varun Gandhi's hate speech and Modi's projection as prime minister could have hurt the NDA's chances in the election," he said.

His disappointment over the Congress's unexpected performance in Uttar Pradesh was evident.

The Congress won 21 Lok Sabha seats; the BJP won 10 seats and its ally, the Rashtriya Lok Dal won 5 seats. Both the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party -- with 19 and 23 seats respectively -- fared better than the BJP.

"It is too early to comment on the results. We have to analyse the entire scenario and only then come to a conclusion," said Kalraj Mishra, a senior BJP leader from UP.

Other BJP leaders in the capital remained tight-lipped and refused to comment on the NDA's defeat. A number of BJP leaders, including Varun and his mother Maneka Gandhi, visited L K Advani at his home. Advani has reportedly said he wants to retire from politics. He has not been seen in public since the results and has not yet made a statement on the results.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Syed Firdaus Ashraf in New Delhi