Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah are working in tandem to deliver the benefits of good governance to the people
The electoral evidence from recent elections shows that the BJP has been on an upswing ever since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister. Today, the BJP is not only the central pivot of the nation's politics but its base has expanded to every nook and corner of the country. Upon assuming office two years ago, BJP president Amit Shah had pledged to expand the party and strengthen its presence in the Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. No surprise then that apart from the historic victory of the BJP in Assam, the party has substantially increased its vote share in Kerala and West Bengal. Even in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the vote share of the BJP has increased as compared to previous Assembly elections.
The results underline the popularity of Modi and the BJP's ideology and development agenda. It symbolises the growing strength of the BJP in the North East and recognises its pan-India presence. Today, the BJP is in its best ever position organisationally and electorally with 11 crore members, and has been able to convert its organisational strength into electoral support and vice versa.
Under Shah, the BJP is emerging as the bridge between the people and the Government. The Government-party relationship has acquired unprecedented synergy which has enabled workers to showcase Modi’s achievements. Unlike in the UPA regime which saw frequent friction between the Government and party, the BJP-led Government and the party is working in tandem.
Modi regularly visits the BJP headquarters for important organisational events, sets the tone for Government-party coordination, and inspires the party rank and file. Better coordination between the party and the Government has led to developmental policies and welfare schemes being properly propagated by crores of party workers. They have persuaded the people to avail of the Government’s welfare schemes such as the Jan Dhan Yojna, the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojna and the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana which has helped implement the development agenda of the Government.
The BJP's Vikas Parv — to report on the Modi Government’s achievements in these past two years — has been welcomed by all. Teams led by Union Ministers are going across the country to spread awareness about the schemes launched by the Centre. They will educate citizens about the Union Government’s welfare policies while Ministers and MPs will ensure that there are are no bottlenecks in availing these schemes.
Meanwhile, the Congress seems to be in terminal decline. People have rejected the party’s opportunistic alliances and its strategy of disruptive politics in Parliament (to stonewall the development agenda of the Government), has been rejected. The people have chosen the politics of development over the obstructionist approach of the Congress.
Shah has worked diligently, campaigned extensively and scripting brilliant electoral strategies in the Assembly elections. In Assam, the decision to highlight the issue of illegal immigrants and project Sarbananda Sonowal as Chief Minister was a masterstoke. The BJP’s alliance with the AGP and the BPF helped form a rainbow coalition. A culmination of all these factors catapulted the BJP to power in Assam and has added momentum to its campaigns in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab.
Evidently, the people have enthusiastically endorsed Modi's leadership. In the North East especially, his Government’s development initiatives have been much appreciated. Clearly, Modi's leadership in Government and Shah's efforts at the party-level have delivered outstanding results.
(The writer is a BJP spokesperson)