NaMo to take oath on May 21
Set to be sworn in as Prime Minister of the country on May 21, Narendra Modi on Friday announced “Sabka saath, sabka vikas” would be his work creed as the BJP geared up for Government formation with the Central Parliamentary Board meeting on Saturday to initiate “consultation process.”
After the BJP gained a simple majority, a first since 1984 for any party, Modi, 63, reached out to the Opposition seeking cooperation of all parties and leaders in running the nation and promised to serve everyone equally. In a large-hearted 45-minute victory speech at Vadodara, the Prime Minister-in-waiting said the Government does not belong to any particular party but to all the people of the country. “For a Government, no one is a favourite, nor is anyone an alien,” he declared to a cheering crowd of supporters whom he thanked for giving him a victory by 5.70 lakh votes.
later, at a rally in Ahmedabad, Modi said a clear mandate like this by the people increases my “responsibility manyfold” and he would not betray the trust reposed in him. “Main apke vishwas ko chot padne nahin doonga,” he said while the public lustily cheered him.He said people have proved the notion wrong that an election cannot be won on the development plank. Modi said if the post-Independence leadership had made “development” a peoples’s movement, the country would have raced ahead 40 years ago. In an inspiring address, the BJP leader, however, asked people not to waste time in finding what went wrong but look ahead and make “vikas” a movement of 100.15 crore Indians rather than leaving it to the Government only.
Modi said his success was that he forced his bitter opponents, who were out to prove him wrong at the slightest opportunity, to address the key issue of development.Buoyed by the victory, BJP president Rajnath Singh dismissed talks of “differences” saying that the role of senior leaders would be decided by the party “collectively.” He said all leaders are “united” under Modi’s leadership.
Describing the “victory” as that of the BJP, senior leader Sushma Swaraj said it will be the Prime Minister’s prerogative to choose who will be in his Cabinet. BJP veteran lK Advani attributed the success of the party to the RSS, party workers and Modi but hastened to add that the Congress’ own failure contributing to the BJP’s success needed to be analysed.
Appearing reluctant to give the entire credit to Modi for the party’s historic performance, Advani said: “In this victory, the contribution of Modi’s leadership, RSS and other organisations like the BJP, has to be analysed. But today’s result mainly is against corruption, misgovernance and dynastic rule.”
A visibly happy Rajnath gave credit to the party and persona of Modi for the spectacular performance of the BJP in the elections and said the role of senior party leaders including lK Advani would be decided collectively and with consensus.He said it is for the first time after 1984 that a single party and pre-poll alliance has got a clear majority to form a Government at the Centre.
“I am happy and satisfied. It is the people’s mandate for change and it is a mandate for Modi’s popularity. The time has come to re-write the Indian success story,” BJP president Singh said.“The call on the role of senior BJP leaders, including lK Advani, would be taken after central parliamentary board meeting,” he said to repeated questions on the responsibility of leaders like Advani and Sushma Swaraj in the new Government.
To a question related to reported reservations expressed by Swaraj and Advani over the leadership of Modi, Singh told a packed Press conference: “The reports about differences over leadership are baseless.”When asked if the mandate shows end of dynastic politics, the BJP leader said this kind of victory cannot be achieved through “negative” agenda.
He said the BJP fought the lok Sabha elections on the agenda of good governance and development. People have also the example of development works done by Modi as Chief Minister for 12 years in Gujarat.
Man-of-the-moment Modi, who tweeted “India has won!” soon after the victory trends emerged, promised in a rally at Vadodara from where he won his lok Sabha seat (besides the Varanasi seat) that he would “work very hard” for the uplift of 115 crore Indians.
He said the Government would accord equal treatment to all. “Sarkar ke liye na koi apna na paraya,” he promised and added his Government’s priority would be to share the people’s happiness and sorrows in equal measure. “Main mazdoor number one hoon,” Modi said while promising that he would spend every moment for the betterment of Indians.
Meanwhile, in an unambiguous message, the RSS asked the BJP to set aside ideological, religious and social differences and create an environment where the nation stays “united” and there is total social “inclusiveness”.
“We are hopeful that everyone will now take constructive steps to get back to normal, amicable and positive environment in the interest of the nation,” senior RSS leader Suresh Bhaiya Joshi said in a statement.
The BJP has been facing flak from Congress and other parties which have accused it of trying to divide people on communal lines and ignoring the interests of Muslims and other minorities.
“We are hopeful that the newly-elected Government will be successful in fulfilling the people’s aspirations. By setting aside the ideological, religious and social differences, we expect the new Government to create an environment where the nation stays united, there is total social inclusiveness and no one ever feels exploited,” he said.
RSS said people have voted for a change in favour of the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate Modi. On being asked about the role RSS would play in Government formation, he said: “Sangh would have no role in Government and in the Council of Ministers. It would be decided by the party and its leaders.”
Asked about the role played by the RSS during the polls, RSS National Executive member Ram Madhav said: “Our role was limited only to educate people before the election and about the challenges the nation is facing today.”