Shimla, Oct 10: The foreign origin of Congress president Sonia Gandhi would be a major poll issue in the coming assembly elections in five states, Union Agriculture Minister Rajnath Singh said today. The "able and mature" leadership of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be a plus point for the BJP in the coming elections in which the foreign origin of the Congress president would be a major issue, he said addressing party workers here.

"The confidence of the people in the leadership of Vajpayee due to development-oriented policies of his government is increasing day by day while the Congress is losing credibility because of its failure to project a strong leader," Singh said and asked the BJP workers to get ready for the Lok Sabha elections.


Alleging that the congress had won the assembly election in Himachal Pradesh by making "false promises", he claimed that the people were "disillusioned" with its rule within a short spell of seven months.

The pace of development in the state was hit after the Congress assumed power in the state, Singh alleged and said people would vote in the Lok Sabha election on the basis of the "poor" performance of the state government.


Asserting that the Centre would not discriminate against any state government, he said it would extend full help to Himachal.


Meanwhile, the state BJP thanked Singh for sanctioning Rs 80 crore horticulture technology mission to Himachal.
Bureau Report