'Modi vs Chaos': Arun Jaitley attacks mahagathbandhan, says Kolkata rally was filled with negativism

Targeting the mahagathbandhan rally, Jaitley wrote in his Facebook post: "The Kolkata rally organized by Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee was significant. On the surface, it was an anti-Modi rally. It indeed was. More significantly it was also a non-Rahul Gandhi rally."

"The opposition politics has thrown up four desirous Prime Ministers wishing to challenge Prime Minister Modi," he said.

"Besides Mamata Banerjee, the other three – Rahul Gandhi, Mayawati and KCR were significantly absent in Kolkata. 2/3rd of those on stage were those who in the past have worked with the BJP. Some octogenarians reached Kolkata to satisfy their late-life ambitions," Jaitley, who is currently outside India for health treatment, said.

" There was not a single speech reflecting the positive idea which the leaders proposed for the future. Negativism was writ large in their approach. The strategy of each of the four contenders is clear," he said.

Jaitley said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is wanting a combination of the 'political adventurists' to back her.

He said: "From the ultra-adventurist Chief Minister of Delhi to the discards of the BJP, there are not too many takers for her. The presence of the National Conference, RJD and DMK leaders was a ritual. Their State alliance interests necessitate them to be more with the Congress. The Behanji of Uttar Pradesh has a clear strategy – play it hard to get. She believes that in India, only caste matters. She is clear that this is her only opportunity."

"KCR is presently the exponent of a non-Congress, non-BJP front. Is there a space for any such front today? It remains a doubtful proposition. The individual strategy of each one of the above appears to be the same. Replace Modi and get on to the Driver’s seat. The Congress, if it chooses, can at best be the pillion rider," he said.

"In the Kolkata rally, negativism was the flavor," he said.

Referring to the massive victory scripted by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Jaitley wrote in his blog post: "Except in Uttar Pradesh and to a lesser extent Karnataka, the arithmetical combination does not appear to be any significantly different from 2014. The whole emphasis in these two States is on caste coalitions. Vote transferability in such caste coalitions is not so simple. Local chemistries react differently. Many of these combinations end up as theoretical propositions."

Led by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, members of 23 parties shared the stage on Brigade Ground in Kolkata and vowed to oust the BJP from power in the next general elections on Saturday.