Hailing the BJP’s maiden victory in the north-eastern state of Assam as support for the party’s ideology of development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday compared the mandate in Assam to the o
Hailing the BJP’s maiden victory in the north-eastern state of Assam as support for the party’s ideology of development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday compared the mandate in Assam to the one received in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it would have “surprised” many.
Mr Modi, who was given a rousing welcome at the BJP headquarters which had been witnessing celebrations since morning, said the mandate would provide new energy to further work for the upliftment of the masses in the state. The PM is likely to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the first BJP chief minister in the state, which would take place on May 24 or 25. Mr Modi was also welcomed with an Assamese jaapi.
The BJP top brass, including party president Amit Shah, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, M. Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkari, were also present at the party headquarters. The BJP’s parliamentary board also met later to review the poll results. The board appointed senior leader Om Mathur and Union minister Thavarchand Gehlot as the central observers for the election of the legislature party leader in Assam.
Mr Modi said the win in Assam has made it clear that the BJP is rapidly receiving “popular acceptance” in all parts of the country which “augurs well” for the democracy. Extending heartfelt gratitude to voters, he said the results are “very encouraging” for the BJP and the NDA. Amid chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” by party workers, he said, “The BJP is rapidly receiving popular acceptance in all regions of India which augurs well for the democracy.”
This public support would give us more energy and encouragement.” He said “all of us” would together make efforts to bring about the change in the lives of common masses.
Earlier, Mr Shah projected the poll results in four states and one Union Territory as popular endorsement of the Modi government’s policies and asserted that people have rejected the Congress’ “negative and obstructionist” politics.
“The country has taken two more steps towards Congress-mukt Bharat. In all these places the BJP had never been able to put up a good performance. This time a staunch foundation has been laid and a building will be created by 2019,” he said, referring to next Lok Sabha polls.
He also congratulated the TMC’s Mamata Banerjee and AIADMK J Jayalalithaa on their win but refrained from wishing the Left over its win in Kerala, saying he was doing so to respect his party workers sentiments over the way the Left parties used violence to target them.
