Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in an emotive speech at BJP headquarters on Thursday not only re-established his link with 11, Ashoka Road but also indicated his willingness to shoulder greater responsibilities.
Clamour is growing within the saffron party’s rank-and-file to project Mr Modi, who scored a hat-trick in Gujarat Assembly polls, as the prime ministerial candidate.
Mr Modi was given a rousing welcome at the BJP headquarters, with posters projecting him as the country’s “future PM”. Rose petals were showered on him as soon he got down from the vehicle and party’s national secretary Shyam Jaju greeted him at the dais with the slogan “Gujarat ki jeet hamari hai, ab Bharat ki baari hai (After Gujarat, its time to win the nation).”
BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, in a short speech, congratulated Mr Modi for the emphatic win and praised his development model in the state.
Amid chanting of “PM, PM, PM...” by party workers, Mr Modi said as a “BJP worker whatever responsibility is given to me by the party I will fulfil them... In the past, whatever responsibilities have been given to me, I have shouldered them with full dedication,” getting rousing applause from workers. He thanked the organisation and party workers for their support and asserted that he was their “fellow companion”. Mr Modi is often blamed for his “authoritative attitude” and not giving importance to the organisation. But his first address to party workers outside Gujarat, he gave credit to “BJP culture” for helping him to perform responsibilities given to him by the party and people of his state.
Before coming to BJP headquarters, Mr Modi met BJP patriarch and former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and senior leaders L.K. Advani, Sushma Swaraj and M.M. Joshi.
In his thanksgiving speech, the Gujarat CM said he had never thought that he would ever be welcomed in the party office with such warmth and respect.