Despite the BJP's showing not upto the expectations in Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday sought to outline the key positives even while asserting to form the Governments in both the States despite Haryana throwing up a fractured mandate.
Addressing BJP workers at the party headquarters in the evening, Modi pointed out how the party scripted history in Maharashtra, where "for the first time in 50 years, a Chief Minister completed his full five-year term" and the return of the party to power shows people reposed faith in the Devendra Fadnavis-led State Government. "Political stability is a must for a state like Maharashtra," he added.
"Even before Diwali, the way people of Haryana and Maharashtra have put their faith in BJP, I want to thank them from the core of my heart," he maintained.
Modi said the people have reposed faith in leadership of Fadnavis and Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar. "Devendra Fadnavis ji and Manohar Lal ji both were first time chief ministers, they did not even have the experience as ministers. And for 5 years they kept working for people's welfare and as a result people have again put their faith in them," Modi said.
"The political pundits who are analysing today's election results, Haryana in itself is an exceptional win since these days there have been less instances of winning again after completing a 5-year term.. Moreover, BJP's vote share in Haryana went up to 36 per cent from 33 per cent; it shows people's endorsement of Govt's work," Modi said.
Earlier, Modi tweeted: "I thank the people of Haryana for blessing us. We will continue to work with the same zeal and dedication for the state's progress. I laud the efforts of hardworking @BJP4Haryana Karyakartas who toiled extensively and went among the people to elaborate on our development agenda.".
BJP president Amit Shah said the BJP has won the first two elections in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second term. Addressing the party workers, Shah said "I want to congratulate party workers across the country as in Modi-2, the first two elections have been won by the BJP. The BJP-Sena yuti (alliance) has full majority in Maharashtra and we won 3 per cent more votes and emerged as the biggest party in Haryana." Shah also referred to various decisions of the central government like ending special status to Jammu and Kashmir, criminalizing instant Triple Talaq and giving rights to 40 lakh residents of unauthorized colonies in Delhi, indicating that the BJP's latest wins were an endorsement of these steps.
Earlier, in his tweet, Shah said the (Manohar Lal) Khattar government in Haryana has made every effort for people's welfare under the central leadership of (Narendra) Modi. "I thank people for making the BJP the single-largest party and giving it another opportunity to serve them," Shah tweeted. He congratulated Chief Minister Khattar and state party chief Subhash Barala.
Shah said: In Maharashtra, BJP-Shiv Sena is going to form the govt once again with majority. We'll work even harder in both states for the welfare of the people.