'Modi Wave Over In The Country': Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has slammed the BJP saying that the "Modi Wave" is over in the country. His comments come a day after the saffron party suffered a humiliating defeat in the Karnataka polls.

"Modi wave is over in the country and now it's our turn. Now our wave is about to come in the country," ANI quoted Raut as saying in a press conference in Mumbai.

He claimed that the people of Karnataka have ended the dictatorship. "Karnataka election has opened a door for the party in the whole country, the people of Karnataka have shown how dictatorship is defeated. We thank the people of Karnataka," he said.

Responding to the Bajrang Bali row, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said, "Bajrang Bali has definitely participated in the election campaign of Karnataka, but he campaigned with the public, and Congress won, meaning Bajrang Bali was not with BJP but with Congress."

The row over the Bajrang Bali erupted after Congress in its election manifesto announced that it would ban the Bajrang Dal organisation in the state.

Taking a potshot at Union Home Minister Amit Shah for calling the Congress party a "reverse gear" sarkar, Raut said, "Amit Shah said that if BJP loses in Karnataka, there will be riots, but after the victory, Karnataka is completely calm and is celebrating, is the country's Home Minister giving threats?"

Addressing a poll rally in the Navalgund Assembly constituency last month, Shah had said, "One hand, there is the Congress under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and on the other, is the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. This (Karnataka Assembly) election is an opportunity for you to decide if you want a double engine sarkar led by PM Modi, which will take Karnataka forward, or the Congress's reverse gear sarkar, which will take Karnataka backwards."

Congress came out with flying colours in the Karnataka polls as it won 135 seats in the 224-member Assembly. The ruling BJP could only win 66 while the JDS, which was expecting to play the role of a kingmaker, was reduced to 19.

The party is likely to announce the CM candidate later in the evening today.