Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 11 claimed that the Congress will not win even 50 seats in the Lok Sabha elections and will not be able to get the opposition party status after the polls. Addressing election rallies in Kandhamal, Bolangir, and Bargarh Lok Sabha seats, Mr. Modi claimed that Odisha’s ‘asmita’ (pride) is in danger and the BJP will protect it, while asserting that a ‘double engine’ government of the saffron party will be formed in the State and a ‘son or daughter of the soil who understands Odia language and culture’ will be made the Chief Minister. He took a dig at Rahul Gandhi, without taking his name, and criticized the Congress for its handling of terrorism and security issues. Mr. Modi also mentioned the achievements of the previous BJP government at the Centre under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, highlighting the importance of the Pokhran tests conducted 26 years ago. He claimed that the Congress always tries to scare people and warned of taking action cautiously due to Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. He also asserted that his government ended 500 years of waiting by building the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Read more on The Hindu.