Congress will form next government in Gujarat: Modhwadia

Jamnagar, Gujarat, Aug 31 (UNI) Gujarat Opposition Leader Arjun Modhwadia today asserted that Congress would form the next government after the forthcoming state assembly elections.

''We will definitely form the government in Gujarat. While we will welcome the likeminded parties with secular credentials to our fold, fate of dissidents from BJP willing to join us will be decided by our high command,'' he told reporters here.

Challenging Chief Minister Narendra Modi for the election, Mr Modhwadia said ''During the 2004 Parliament election, Mr Modi had said no Congress MP from Gujarat would be able to make it to Delhi.

However, Congress' seats have increased from five to 12 after the elections. This time also, we will show him our strength.'' Talking about Congress' manifesto for the upcoming election, Mr he said ''We will give priority to five crore people of Gujarat (as often referred by Mr Modi in his speech) not to five ''crorepati'' industrialists patronised by the Modi government.'' Mr Modhwadia said former finance minister in the previous Congress government Arvind Sanghvi will head the manifesto committee, which will prepare the document after touring different districts in the state.

UNI