New Delhi/Bangalore:
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was at the receiving end of fresh barbs from rivals today with Union Minister and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh likening him to "Bhasmasur". His Uttar Pradesh counterpart Akhilesh Yadav also said that the famed Modi magic only worked on television and in Gujarat.
"Modi is Bhasmasur. He will consume the people who have created him. He has consumed his mentor, Mr Advani. He has consumed Togadia, one of his co-conspirator in 2002 and he is nothing but a Bhasmasur," Mr Ramesh told PTI in Delhi.
(Read)Bhasmasur, according to mythology, was a demon who, with a power granted by Lord Shiva, could destroy anyone by touching the person's head with his hand. Bhasmasur then attempted to touch the head of the Lord as he wanted to possess his wife, Parvati.
The minister was responding to questions about the developments in the BJP after LK Advani's resignation from all party posts following the elevation of Mr Modi as Chairman of BJP's Election Campaign Committee for the next Lok Sabha elections.
Meanwhile, Mr Yadav dismissed the possibility of any impact of Mr Modi in Uttar Pradesh, adding that the Gujarat strongman was hardly acquainted with the "nitty-gritty of politics" in his state.
"Modi's elevation and his magic will not cast a spell in Uttar Pradesh as... people of the state hardly know him. His magic only works on television and Gujarat," the UP Chief Minister said.
(Read)Mr Modi's close aide Amit Shah yesterday embarked on his maiden visit to UP after taking charge of BJP's affairs in the politically-sensitive state, voicing optimism that the "foundation" for the BJP-led NDA's poll victory in 2014 would be laid in UP.