New Delhi:
In his latest blog, Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani has predicted a huge loss for the Congress in the general elections in 2014, saying the number of seats for the current ruling party at the Centre could be reduced to double digits. Mr Advani wrote that it will not be 'surprising' if the Congress suffers its biggest defeat since 1952 in the next Lok Sabha elections.
Mr Advani wrote, "It would not at all be surprising if the next Lok Sabha elections yield a result which for the Congress may prove the worst in its history since 1952 .... it may be the first time when the Congress Party's score sinks to just two digits, that is, less than one hundred!" <a href="http://blog.lkadvani.in/blog-in-english/speculations-about-congress%E2%80%99-fate-in-2014" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">(Read blog)</a>
Mr Advani added, "The bungling in Karnataka notwithstanding, all recent public opinion surveys reveal that the principal beneficiary of the Congress Party's fast eroding reputation continues to be the BJP."
Congress reacted sharply to the blog with Minister of State (MoS) for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla saying, "I don't think anyone should comment about other political parties. If they see the situation of their own party, that will be better. I hope the history repeats itself and the people vote against the wishes of the BJP."
Mr Advani in his blog said that the Congress' 'miserable performance' in the state elections of Uttar Pradesh, which include pocket-boroughs of the Gandhi family like Rae Bareilly and Amethi, is a clear indication of the party's collapsing fortunes.
Mr Advani also ruled out a third front government at the Centre, saying that the shape which the national polity has acquired in the past two-and-a-half decades makes it practically impossible for any government to be formed in Delhi without the support of the Congress or the BJP. He, however, added that a non-BJP, non-Congress Prime Minister supported by the two parties is feasible.