Is ‘Modi Mission’ of 272+ falling short?

New Delhi: BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is open to post-poll alliances and would be looking forward for support from regional satraps like TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee, AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa, BJD leader Naveen Patnaik and BSP supremo Mayawati, in order to cobble up the majority to form the next government at the Centre.

In an interview to a private TV channel, he said that even the support of one individual MP would be welcomed by his party.

Modi’s lieutenant Amit Shah reiterated Modi’s statement, saying that the BJP does not believe in untouchability and its doors are open to all.

With barely two days left for the last leg of polling, the BJP is getting ready to work on the numbers, in the event of the party falling short of numbers. Despite the fact that Modi had taken Mamata head on in Bengal and Jayalalithaa in TN,besides criticising others, he is now softening his stand towards them, hoping against hope that they would support him, in case the BJP falls short of reaching its goal of 272.

Mayawati was the first to deny any support to Modi, saying that she will not support the BJP at any cost, ruling out the possibility of any alliance. She said, “When elections started, Modi was claiming that NDA will not require support of any other party. No party talks about taking support of any other party unless it is unsure of its victory… The interview of Modi is a ploy to create confusion in the minds of minority community, which is voting for us.”

The TMC spokesperson Derek O’ Brien also refused lending support to Modi, saying, “Our doors are shut and the keys have been thrown away.” Claiming that TMC will emerge as the third largest party, come May 16, he indicated forming of the Federal Front with the support of BJD, AIADMK, JD (U) and all other regional parties outside the fold of UPA and NDA.

Amused, the Congress Chief Spokesperson Ajay Maken took a dig at the BJP, saying that the Modi-led NDA is now realizing that it will fail to get anywhere near to the magic figure of 272 and was therefore getting jittery.

He said, “As things stand today, I do not see the NDA or BJP getting any allies, so that they are able to form government. Every political party is is moving away from the BJP and Modi. This is something we have been saying from the beginning that it will be difficult for Modi to be PM or for NDA to form the Government.”

Sources stated the Congress is also open to the formation of the Third Front and could support Mamata or any other leader, as decided by the UPA. RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav declared that his party would go with the Congress in propping up a Third Front leader.

A senior Congress leader confided that failing to secure the numbers, the Congress would have no other option but to prop-up a Third Front Government.