Senior BJP leader lK Advani on Sunday showered the party’s PM candidate Narendra Modi with praises but cautioned against ‘overconfidence’, which spoiled the BJP’s chance of retaining power in 2004.
“The enthusiasm and confidence among the party workers for the 2014 parliamentary elections is unprecedented. The BJP is sure to win a clear majority under the leadership of Rajnath Singh and with Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate,” Advani said in his concluding speech at the party’s two-day National Council meet at Ramlila Ground in the Capital.
He went on to say that Modi’s vision for the country had the influence of Swami Vivekanand’s idea of united and developing India. Applauding the Modi’s election campaign, Advani said he had not seen any other politician address so many ‘massive rallies’. He noted that Modi has already addressed 77 rallies and 100 more were in the pipeline. He, however, had a word of caution for the BJP workers. “We lost 2004 elections because we became over-confident. This time we have to ensure that we do not become over confident and fight the elections with confidence,” the former Deputy Prime Minister said. He praised Modi for his track record in governance in Gujarat as well as the crowds his rallies attract.
The BJP veteran said the party secured more than 80 per cent of the seats in the recently concluded Assembly polls in four States. Also, the BJP got votes from minorities despite “communal” propaganda by the Congress and its allies.
“In all the four states combined, the Congress got only 126 seats, which means that we are lagging behind in just two states while they have to cover all. This has made them evidently demoralised,” he said adding that Muslims have heavily supported the party in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.