The victorious BJP candidates fresh out of a nail biting finish to being elected MlAs just a day earlier from their constituencies couldn’t stop sharing their experience with the party workers as they arrived at the party’s headquarters here on Monday afternoon to attend the BJP legislative Party meeting.
The first to arrive was lakhan Devangan who won from the Katghora Assembly segment in Korba while defeating the Congress party veteran Bodhram Kanwar. “It’s been a significant victory for the party and me. I extend my gratitude to the people of my constituency who voted for me in large numbers,” he told The Pioneer.
Immediately after Devangan proceeded towards the hall at the BJP headquarters where the meeting was scheduled, a string of vehicles started arriving at the party headquarters with newly elected MlAs being greeted by party workers. The BJP national general secretary and In-charge of Chhattisgarh JP Nadda who arrived around 11.30 am got down from his car and immediately stated, “I am thankful to the people of the State for their overwhelming support as well as the partymen who worked hard to ensure the party’s victory in the polls.”
Former Industry Minister Rajesh Munat on his arrival told mediapersons that his victory had been due to a series of development works done by him in his constituency and most of all the faith of people in his work. As former Minister Ajay Chandrakar who won from Kurud Assembly segment arrived, the party workers greeted him and stated, “We want to see you as a Minister again.”
Former Home Minister Nankiram Kanwar, when asked what caused his defeat, replied, “I myself fail to understand.” The MlAs — all 49 kept arriving till later part of the day including Raman Singh who was greeted on his arrival by a large number of senior leaders at the party headquarters. The MlAs and senior party leaders waited for former BJP national president M Venkaiah Naidu to arrive at the party headquarters to commence the meeting.
The general talk among the partymen who waited outside the State BJP headquarters veered around Sunday’s anxious moments around noon time when they thought the party was heading for a defeat in the polls.