Modi mentioned 'Modi' 758 times in poll speeches: Congress

Accusing the BJP of making efforts to mislead the people on religious and divisive issues in the Lok Sabha election campaign, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speeches over the past 15 days "did not speak a word" on unemployment and price rise even as he mentioned "Modi" 758 times, Congress 232 times and referred to INDIA alliance 573 times.

Addressing a press conference here, Kharge expressed confidence of the INDIA bloc forming the government after the Lok Sabha polls and said they will take everyone along.

He accused the Election Commission of not acting on "divisive" speeches by PM Modi.

"In his election speeches, PM Modi spoke Mandir-Masjid 421 times and spoke divisive words. He spoke words like Muslim, minority 224 times but Election Commission did act against him" Kharge said.

The campaigning for the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha polls ended on May 30.

Kharge said the election for the 18th Lok Sabha will be remembered for a long time because in this election, every citizen of the country has come together to save democracy and the Constitution, forgetting caste, creed, religion, region, gender, language.

"The PM and leaders of the BJP made countless efforts to mislead the people on religious and divisive issues. Despite this, the people chose issues and we asked for votes on issues," he said.

"We are confident that on June 4, 2024, the people of this country will give a mandate to a new alternative government. INDIA alliance will form a government with full majority and all of us together will give this country an inclusive nationalistic developmental government and we will move forward taking everyone along," he added.