Union Law Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday criticised the Congress over its decision to induct OBC leader Alpesh Thakor in its ranks, and said the party was resorting to gimmicks and theatrics.

“Rahul Gandhi, has your party become so desperate after consistent defeats that you are reducing yourself to a gimmick to make yourself relevant?” Prasad asked. Bringing up the matter of widespread corruption that prevailed when the Congress was in power, Prasad said Gandhi had never practised the politics of development.

The Congress vice president, the Minister added, “is yet to understand the serious dynamics of economics and development” and depends on his scriptwriter to spell out policy positions.

Responding to allegations levelled by Narendra Patel, a convenor of Hardik Patel’s Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, that the BJP tried to buy him off by paying him Rs 10 lakh and promising to deliver Rs 90 lakh later, Prasad asked where the remainder of the money was. The Minister said Patel should share all the information on the matter.