New Delhi: Expressing confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would retain power at the Centre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Tuesday that this was the first time since 1962 that a government had returned for the third consecutive time after successfully completing two terms.
With the BJP now having to rely on allies to form a government, Modi emphasised the NDA’s victory and praised partners such as Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar.
Modi made these remarks at the BJP HQ, where he was given a rousing welcome after the NDA secured a majority in the Lok Sabha elections. Chants of ‘Modi, Modi’ could be heard as party workers and supporters sounded conches and danced to dhol beats.
Senior BJP leaders including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP chief J.P. Nadda were also present.
Modi said that there were many aspects to this mandate. “Aaj mangal hai (today is a sacred day), and it is confirmed that the NDA is going to form the government for the third time. We are grateful to the people. For the first time since 1962, a government has returned to power after completing two consecutive terms. We are grateful to the people for reposing their complete faith in the BJP and the NDA,” the prime minister said.
He added: “Wherever assembly elections were held in the states, the NDA got a grand victory. Be it Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim or Odisha. The Congress has been completely wiped out in these states. The BJP has also performed well in the Lok Sabha elections in Odisha.”
However, having fallen short of the majority mark of 272 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP will now be dependent on its allies — something that will have a bearing not only on how the coalition will function if it does form the government, but also on the overall dynamics with other parties.
The BJP will have to rely on Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to form a coalition government, and the PM Tuesday made a point of mentioning that the NDA had performed “exceptionally well” in Andhra Pradesh under Naidu’s leadership and “brilliantly” in Bihar under Nitish.
The PM also made it a point to characterise Tuesday’s victory as that of the NDA. “After six decades, the voters of the country have created a new history. After six decades, they have given an opportunity to an alliance, the NDA, to serve the country for the third consecutive time. This unbreakable relationship of trust with the public is a great strength of democracy. Your blessings are our energy to work with new enthusiasm and enthusiasm,” he said.
‘Jai Jagannath’, enthusiasm in J&K
The prime minister started his address with chants of “Jai Jagannath”, expressing gratitude for the party’s victory in the Odisha assembly elections.
“The BJP is going to form a government in Odisha. The BJP won a seat in Kerala as well…our party workers in Kerala have made a lot of sacrifices. The moment they were awaiting for generations has come today,” he said.
Modi also made mention of Jammu and Kashmir and said, “In this election, the voters of Jammu and Kashmir have shown unprecedented enthusiasm by voting in record numbers. They have shown the mirror to anti-India elements who defame the country in the world. I bow before the people of the country on this victory.”
He added: “I respectfully salute every voter and the public of the country on this holy festival of victory. I also congratulate all the parties and all the candidates across the country. This huge success of democracy would not have been possible without the active participation of everyone. I also heartily thank every worker of the BJP and the NDA.”
Expressing gratitude to the voters, Modi said, “The people have expressed full confidence in the BJP and the NDA. Expressing confidence in this effort in 2019, the country again gave a strong mandate. After this, the second term of the NDA became a guarantee of development and legacy. With this guarantee in 2024, we went to every corner of the country to seek the blessings of the people. Today, for the third time, I bow down with humility before the blessings the NDA has received,” he said.
Coming down heavily on the opposition INDIA bloc, Modi said, “Even the united opposition could not win as many seats as the BJP alone has won in these Lok Sabha elections. I would say to the BJP workers present in every corner of the country, your hard work, the sweat you shed in such heat, inspires Modi to work continuously,” he said.
Reiterating the theme of ‘Modi’s guarantee’, the PM said, “I would like to reiterate that I will work for 18 hours if you work for 10 hours. We Indians will take the country forward. In the third term, the country will write a chapter of big decisions, and it’s Modi’s guarantee.”
(Edited by Rohan Manoj)
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