Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today said Congress is in a bad shape due to lack of formidable leadership and claimed that "saffron resurgence" is on the cards with Narendra Modi being a credible alternative.
"The wave in favour of BJP-led NDA across the country will be soon be converted into a saffron storm," Uddhav said in an interview in today's edition of Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'.
"Except for Atal Bihari Vajpyee, Opposition had no face.
While there were Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi ..Congress is unable to bring Rahul Gandhi before the people and same is the case with Priyanka Vadra," he said.
"For the first time Congress is in a bad shape as they don't have a face, while the Opposition parties have consolidated and united themselves behind (BJP's prime ministerial nominee) Modi," he said.
To a question on whether 'India Shining' will be repeated (defeat after much hype) this time, Uddhav said, "Forget that, because of Modi, there will be 'India shining' in real terms.
Opposition parties had succeeded in rubbishing the India shining campaign run by the NDA that time."
Admitting that the Lok Sabha election is the first major challenge for his party after the death of his father Bal Thackeray, Uddhav said he always feels the presence of Sena supremo around him.
To another question about several leaders quitting the party, the Sena leader said the cadres have not left.
"Few have left because they were denied tickets," he claimed.
Referring to the conviction of party leader Babanrao Gholap in disproportionate assets case, he expressed surprise that the verdict came after 14 years and that too at the time of the elections.