BJP National Executive and Council Meet in Delhi
Unlike other meetings, there was a new approach, new thoughts, new ideas and overall enthusiasm in the BJP’s executive and council meeting held in Delhi from January 18 to 19.
Veteran leader Shri lk Advani silently observed every moment of the meeting and finally said: “There is a visible change in the last six months, during which Narendrabhai Modi was first announced as campaign committee chief and then as the PM candidate. High ambition is not a crime, low ambition is. I have never seen such enthusiasm and self-confidence. I congratulate Shri Rajnath Singh for setting a target of 272+ seats. I do not remember any other leader who has addressed such massive rallies in various parts of our country.”
He further saidm, “The Congress had created a sense of distrust in the minds of the Muslim community. But this time, the community expressed its confidence in us in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. I want to tell the Muslim community that all these years they have been used, but have not benefitted.”
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Smt Sushma Swaraj asserted that the party would win more than 272 seats in Lok Sabha polls. She said the battle would be between our visible leader and their (Congress) invisible leader.
Party president Shri Rajnath Singh described 10 years of UPA rule as a “wasted opportunity,” which had seen corruption, poor economic growth, an increase in terrorism and tension along, the borders, joblessness, inflation and poor state of agriculture.
Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Shri Arun Jaitley said the “first right on country’s resources could not be decided on the basis of religion. “Poor must have the first right. People living in far flung areas of North-East and the tribal living in forests should see the light of development. They should have first right on country’s resources.” he said.
Let us build Brand India with “five Ts”—Modi
The speech delivered by Shri Narendra Modi at the concluding ceremony was full of wonderful ideas expected from the party’s prime ministerial candidate. He put forward a grand vision for India. He spoke of the need for health assurance, not health insurance, stressing on preventive healthcare, river interlinking and the spread of IITs, IIMs and AIIMs to all states. In an acknowledgement to the Vajpayee era, he spoke of moving ahead from the former PM’s dream of a Golden Quadrilateral national highway project to improving the rail system by introducing bullet trains. Putting Brand India back on the map also drew loud cheers. He spoke of women moving from homemakers to nation builders. He inspired everyone with his ‘Idea of India’ mantras.
His development strategy is to go in “mission mode” in all sectors — industry, the next generation infrastructure, water and gas grids, bullet trains as in Japan, healthcare, education, agriculture, urbanisation, the setting up of 100 smart cities, and IITs, IIMs and AIIMS in every State. When all this work begins, imagine the employment it would generate, he said unveiling his model of urban growth with specialised townships and twin and satellite cities and AIIMS, IIMs and IITs in every state.
Let us build brand India, with “five Ts” — talent, tradition, tourism, trade and technology. If nurtured properly, he promised, these would catapult India to the top in the comity of nations. His idea of India, Modi said, was based on truth, non-violence, service to the poor, respect for women, and was not confined to any one person or entity. He asked the karyakartas to go on a door-to-door campaign for funds, setting an outreach target of 10 crore families. Setting out what he called his “rainbow strategy,” Shri Modi listed seven issues that he would strengthen—cultural and familial values, agricultural-rural development, empowerment and security of women, environmental protection, youth power, democracy and knowledge and skill development. He set a target for party workers to reach out to at least 10 crore families with request of “Ek Note, Kamal par Vote” message.
“Any individual may achieve a very high degree of progress, but that has no significance unless his motherland too, registers corresponding progress… We are now-a-days interested only in reaping the harvest and have forgotten to provide the field with manure. Can we not forgo a few worthless ambitions for the protection and benefit of our own people?”
—Deendayal Upadhyaya
During the national executive meeting at NDMC Hall, a book, A Remarkable Political Movement, written by Shri V Shanmuganathan was released by veteran leader Shri LK Advani.
The book narrates the concrete achievements of the BJP in various states. And also it gives a glimpse about the role played by BJP inside Parliament. The book also contains some articles on India’s rich cultural, spiritual and literary life. Shri Rajnath Singh said the book contains lot of important ideological thoughts. Shri Narendra Modi, Smt. Sushma Swaraj and Shri Arun Jaitley also appreciated the book.
Surendra Singhal in Deoband
The high profile rally of BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to be held in Meerut on February 2 is going to reset the political equations in entire Western Uttar Pradesh. Undoubtedly, there is Modi wave all over the region and the caste and religious equations have changed after Muzaffarnagar riots, the BJP leadership needs to take some precautions in fielding the right candidates and devising the poll strategy. If the party acts perfectly on such fronts, no power on the earth can stop it sweeping the region.
The backward class voters have been the backbone of the party in this region and the party registered remarkable win both in the assembly and the Parliament during the 1990s on the strength of these voters. There are good indications prior to the Meerut rally that the party is going to focus more on the backward classes. Re-induction of popular OBC leader Kalyan Singh into the party is the step that has strengthened its support base among these communities all over the state. It was because of the negligence of these castes that earlier Mayawati and now Mulayam Singh Yadav are enjoying power in the state. The projection of Shri Narendra Modi as PM candidate has also strengthened the voters’ confidence in the party. No doubt, Shri Modi is a statesman now and he has all qualities to lead the nation.
BJP’s poll strategy has increased the worries of both Mulayam Singh and Mayawati also. But the equations indicate that the fight in UP will be between the BJP and Samajwadi Party, and Maya-wati and Congress are nowhere in the picture. Therefore, the BJP, instead of targeting the Congress, should focus more on the sp misrule.
With elections around the corner, many numbers are thrown by the pollsters. Poll predictions are highlighting the four facts unanimously.
1. BJP-led NDA is in advantageous position
2. BJP is improving its vote share across age group, sections of the voters
3. Congress is decimated, may hit the lowest total
4. Narendra Modi is emerging as the most favourite PM candidate. Once put one to one against Rahul Gandhi, popularity of Narendra Modi increases.
If we go beyond these numbers and analyse, it clearly reflects that on issues of leadership, corruption, security and governance, BJP is positing a credible alternative to the disarrayed Congress.
Seat predications for Lok Sabha 2014 (Out of 543)
Agency BJP/NDA CONGRESS/UPA
ABP News 210/226 81/101
CSDS 192-210/211-231 92-108/107-127
C-VOTER 188/212 91/103
Most Favoured PM Candidate (In percentage) (Out of 100)
Agency/Source Narendra Modi Rahul Gandhi
CSDS 34% 15%
ABP NEWS 60% 40%
CHETAN BHAGAT 86% 14%
C-VOTER 50^ 15%
Leave a Comment