V Shanmuganathan

The enthusiastic Friday, September 13, 2013 became a historic day for BJP. Hectic activities were going on in and around 11, Ashoka Road for the whole day. Various leaders and karyakartas at different levels were meeting, consulting and convincing each other for the consensus.

Unlike other political parties democratic process is always followed in BJP. So, different shades of opinions were taken into account and the final moment came. On the evening around 5 pm of September 13, 2013 the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Parliamentary Board met at party’s headquarters in New Delhi.  They discussed in detail about various aspects of the situation. 

Parliament Board Meet

National president Shri Rajnath Singh expressed his desire to announce the Prime Ministerial candidate immediately. The UPA government has become a total failure. Prices are rising, the value of rupees is falling and there are no new  jobs. So, it has become the urgent duty of BJP to give an alternative.  In this background, we have to make the announcement.  Gujarat’s impressive economic record and Narendra Modi’s resounding victory in the last assembly election makes his leadership capability for ahead of others.  There is a widespread popular support of the entire nation in favour of Shri Modi.  So it is high time to declare him as an alternative.  Everyone accepted the suggestion. Shri LK Advani did not attend the meeting due to certain personal reservations. Then a press conference was arranged.  Entire Parliamentary Board members sat on the dais.  Shri Rajnath Singh, Shri Narendra Modi, Dr Murali Manohar Joshi, Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Shri Arun Jaitley, Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot, Shri Anantha Kumar and Shri Ram Lal were together on the dais.

Shri Rajnath Singh, announced the momentous and far-reaching decision. “The BJP has a tradition to declare the PM candidate before Lok Sabha Elections. Today, I called for a Parliamentary Board Meeting to discuss this.  The Parliamentary Board has decided to project Narendra Modi as the Prime Ministerial candidate.  We have taken this decision seeing the mood of the nation and the views of the karyakartas.” Shri Singh added that the Parliamentary Board congratulates Shri Modi and expressed confidence that the BJP will form the next Government.  The BJP President added that all allies of the NDA have been taken on board in this decision.

BJP’s Victory in 2014 Elections

Speaking after the declaration, Shri Narendra Modi thanked the leadership and the karyakartas of the party for reposing faith in him by giving him very important responsi-bility.  He said, “For several years as a karyakarta I have undertaken several tasks and all the strength that I have got has gone in service of the nation. The Party has given a big task to me, someone who came from a small family. The Party has been built by the hardwork of Atalji and Advaniji and the blessings of the karyakartas will give us success.”  Shri Modi added, “I bow to the karyakartas of the party and I assure that I will leave no stone unturned in working for a BJP victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.  I seek the blessings of the people in our efforts to free the nation of the turbulent times we are going through.” He thanked the NDA allies for their blessings and also thanked the friends in the media.  Shri Modi affirmed that in 2014 the country will fight corruption, price rise and support development. There was a sign of ovation, applause and cheers everywhere generating great enthusiasm.

Widespread Enthusiasm

Afterwards, all the leaders went and met Shri LK Advaniji and Shri Atalji and sought their blessings. The news of Narendra Modi formally anointed as BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate spread like wildfire.  There was widespread enthusiasm throughout the country from sadhus to scientists praising Modi.  Even in small villages people were celebrating by bursting fire crackers and doing poojas in temples. The intellectuals, industrialists and opinion makers expressed their views in favour of Modi. “It’s an advantage to BJP.  They have scored a point.”  “It’s good news for the country.  Modi has done a good job for Gujarat. Hopefully, he will replicate the same in the rest of the country.” “Gujarat Model of governance with industrial and economic development sustained over almost a decade-and a half can be spread to other parts of the country and applied to reforms management, which is the need of the hour, it could augur well for the country”.

“The announcement will maximise the seats of BJP.  Narendra Modi certainly enjoys more support than anybody else.  The coming election will be determined by young voters, who form about 30 per cent of the electorate. About 60 to 70 per cent of them will vote.  They will be a big swing factor. Coming 2014 Lok Sabha elections will be a fight for India’s youth – pro-growth, pro-industry, pro-agriculture, pro-jobs policies will catch the attention of the younger generation.  Narendra Modi is a leader with a grand vision.  So it is a good news for the country.” This uniform opinion was pouring in through telephone calls, Facebook, twitter and other sources.

Winning Decision

Claiming it a winning decision, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said that with Narendra Modi in the front, their possibility of getting a larger number of seats exists.  “We weighed all possibilities while taking the decision, opinion of the cadres was also important. Appointing Modi as BJP’s PM candidate has the support of the majority of the country”, said Jaitley. “I would appeal to all minorities, please judge Modi by his performance,” Jaitley added.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took to social networking site Twitter to welcome the announcement. “I congratulate Narendra Modi on being nominated as a party’s PM candidate.  His dynamic leadership would ensure astounding victory for us.  The leadership of Modi shall take India to great heights which this nation and our citizens deserve,” Chouhan tweeted.

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray  said “the churning of the ocean has thrown up amrit (divine nectar).” Shiromani Akali Dal, a constituent of the NDA, welcomed the BJP’s decision terming it a right decision taken by the party.

World media, Britain’s Guardian, USA’s The New York Times, Wall street Journal flashed the news with headlines. “It’s Official: Narendra Modi set to challenge India’s Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. Mr. Narendra Modi, Chief minister of the western Indian State of Gujarat has won praise for turning Gujarat into an economic powerhouse and a magnet for foreign investment. His pro-business stance can revive India’s  stumbling economy.”

General public belonging to all sections and all regions should take a pledge to make Mission 272 plus a reality by working together, to make Mr. Modi as next Prime Minster of Bharat.

 

Over one billion people search Narendra Modi on Google  in a day

Narendra Modi is the most searched person on Google. Earlier this record was on the name of Barack Obama.

Modi, who has emerged as most popular political icon in India, entered the record book after his name received maximum number of search on Google in a day. Around 1000077332 (Over one billion) people searched the keyword Narendra Modi on search engine giant Google. During the US presidential elections, Barack Obama had received 9877532 number of search in a single day.

PM, dignitaries from across the world wishes on birthday

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and prominent dignitaries from India and across the world greeted Shri Narendra Modi on his 64th birthday on September 17. Apart from the senior BJP leaders other prominent personalities included Lata Mangeshkar and veteran BJP leader Shri Keshubhai Patel. An unceasing flow of people was seen from the early morning to convey birthday wishes to Modi in Gandhinagar. His mother Heeraben blessed him with a copy of Bhagvat Geeta. Shri Modi visited the residence of Shri Keshubhai Patel to seek his blessings.

Shri Modi said the blessings from common people instilled a fresh vigour, strength and understanding in him to work for the cause of the people. He exuded faith that the hopes and aspirations that embodied in the people’s blessing will surely be realised.