Sonia Kicks off Congress Campaign, Slams Third Front, BJP

Kicking off her poll campaign from Davangere in Karnataka Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday lampooned the Third Front saying the grouping had one prime ministerial aspirant for every constituent in the alliance and blamed traditional rivals BJP for dividing people to better poll showings.

Casting aspersions, Sonia said: “We don’t know to whom and which party the Third Front belongs, where they come (from) and when they meet. There are as many PM (prime minister) aspirants as many parties in the Third Front,” she said.

“A country like India cannot survive with such parties. We need stability, experience and competency like Manmohan Singh,” said Sonia Gandhi.

“In the past people have seen when a non-Congress government comes to power, the country weakens and instability reigns,” she contended.

She was equally unforgiving in her attacks on the BJP and said: “We are seeking mandate by not dividing people and poisoning them with hatred, as some parties indulge in.”