Modi is Chief Minister of average state: Chidambaram

“Modi is Chief Minister of an average state,” the Finance Minister remarked when asked whether he would call Modi Chief Minister of a “failed state or an average state” given its performance on several indices.

He, however, deftly avoided a question about Robert Vadra model of development being alleged by BJP while targeting the son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi.

“If anybody wants to call these models and compare them. I wish them well. But the real question is whether there is any model called a Gujarat model”.

Responding to questions about Congress leaders giving different figures of Modi's election expenditure with Anand Sharma putting it at Rs 10,000 crore and Kapil Sibal at Rs 5,000 crore, he remarked in a lighter vein that he would put it in the middle at Rs 7,000 crore.

He, however, hastened to add that there was no evidence. “The evidence is only observational evidence,” he said, adding anyone who has an experience of politics can guess after visiting a rally as to how much money has been spent.

He was asked whether any inquiry could be instituted into the huge funds pumped for campaigning and where they have come from.