Riding on its recent success in Punjab, where it created history by returning to power for a second consecutive term, National Democratic Alliance ally Shiromani Akali Dal on Saturday favoured early Lok Sabha polls, saying the country had come to a standstill under Congress rule and people were fed up.
Badal also said the NDA was currently the best alternative to the Congress at the Centre in case the country went in for early general elections.
"I think there should be elections as soon as possible, all are so fed up because not a single decision is being taken by the government of India. Cases, projects are pending for years. The main meetings are not taking place... How can the country come to a standstill? I personally feel that the country has come to a standstill under the Congress rule," SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said.
When asked if the SAD was working towards a new alternative at the Centre with the Trinamool Congress and Janata Dal - United, he said the NDA would provide the "best alternative to the Congress at this moment".
"At this moment, I think the BJP, the Akalis, the NDA is the best alternative for this nation. And I think this alternative, whenever it was in government before, actually performed and gave positive results. All infrastructure, major projects were initiated during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government. So I think the next alternative and the only alternative to the Congress is the NDA," he told reporters.
Accusing the Congress of being responsible for "corruption at such high scale", Badal said the party was being wiped out of the country as people were fed up with it.
Holding the Congress responsible for price rise and corruption, Sukhbir said, "People are fed up with Congress rule. They have realised that the party is responsible for what is happening to them. There is price rise, inflation and corruption on an unprecedented scale."
Taking a dig at Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi for his failure to make much impact in the assembly polls in five states, Badal said, "We benefitted a lot in Punjab, because wherever Rahul Gandhi goes, the Congress loses. So he should tour and campaign all over the country".
When asked whether investigations will be carried on against former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who is facing corruption charges, he said, "We are not into vendetta politics; that is not our agenda".
Parkash Singh Badal will be sworn in as Punjab chief minister for the fifth time on March 14 and SAD chief Sukhbir Badal is likely to be sworn in as the deputy chief minister again at the swearing-in ceremony at Chhappar Chiri village near Chandigarh.
