As the speculation of a Rahul Gandhi versus Narendra Modi fight for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections gathers steam, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ananth Kumar on Friday said the Gujarat Chief Minister has carved a niche for himself through three hat-trick victories in his state, while the nation doesn't know the merits and demerits of the Congress vice-president "who sounds hollow and empty".

"Narendra Bhai through his three hat-trick victories in Gujarat on the basis of development has shown the way. He has become a national icon for development.

"At the same time, Rahul Gandhi is yet trying, the country doesn''t know what are his merits and de-merits," said Kumar. "Therefore, whenever Rahul Gandhi speaks to media, whenever Rahul Gandhi speaks to industry, whenever Rahul Gandhi speaks to the country it sounds hollow and empty," he added.

Kumar also lashed out at Congress President Sonia Gandhi for spoiling the image of Karnataka, which is presently ruled by the BJP.