(Image source from: How Narendra Modi powered BJP to victory})
Narendra Modi, the man BJP had placed all its hopes to win Lok Sabha elections 2014, has finally delivered. Modi not only ensured a win but a thumping victory for the BJP and its allies.
BJP-led NDA has 337 seats in the Parliament, while the BJP has 283 members in the 16th Lok Sabha. NaMo's slogan of "abki baar Modi sarkar" ensured that the BJP crosses the 272 majority number.
The BJP central leadership named Narendra Modi, 63, its prime ministerial candidate almost eight months ago. At that time there was opposition from some senior BJP leaders. The party seemed to be divided into the LK Advani camp and the Narendra Modi camp, a younger and more dynamic leader, who had proved his leadership skills in Gujarat as the chief minister of the state. Besides there was oppositin from Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar who moved out of the NDA fold with his JD(U).
Inspite of the opposition from certain quarters, the BJP went ahead with its decision to field Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate. And NaMo, as he is popularly known in Hindi and Gujarati, didn't let them down and as always delivered with conviction.
The BJP and its its allies now has over 300 out of the 543 seats in the 16th Lok Sabha. The massive number is a clear evidence of the "Modi wave" that the BJP had talked of for months. The Gujarat chief minister not only ensured a clear mandate for the BJP-led NDA, but also enforced a colossal defeat on the incumbent Congress. The party, led by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, had its worst performance at the national elections since independence with less than 50 seats.
During the 2014 election campaigns, the BJP chose to steer clear of religion and the Hindtuva agenda. Instead Mr Modi promised to recharge the economy and duplicate the "Gujarat model of development" across the country.
Mr Modi's campaign focused on growth and development, something the youths of the country has been hungry for. He vowed to reboot the economy and bring efficient governance if the NDA is voted to power.
After seing 10 years of Congress-led UPA rule, mired with corruption, price rise and economic recession, the country was ready for change. This is what the BJP cashed on and promised a better governance with the slogan "Modiji ko lane wale hain ache din aane wale hai" (we'll bring Modi, better days will come). And the vast majority of India's population decided to give Narendra Modi an opportunity to turn around the economy and bring good governance into the country.
The Gujarat chief minister and his core team designed a presidential-style campaign supported by world-class technology. Since September, when Modi was named BJP's prime ministerial candidate, he has covered over 300,000 km while addressing 457 election meetings. And when it was not possible for him to be present physically, Modi appeared in a hologram.
Narendra Modi used his humble background to his advantage during election rallies and meetings. In almost every public appearance, Mr Modi told voters that he is the son of a lower-caste tea seller, contrasting himself to the priviledged upbringing of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, his electoral opponent.
By Friday afternoon on May 16, it became clear that Narendra Modi had emerged the undisputed champion of elections 2014. The BJP-led NDA was trending in more than 300 seats and he had himself won the two constituencies - Vadodara, in Gujarat and Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh – he had contested. Mr. Modi in his victory speech at Vadodara said that his mission would be "development for all" in the next government.
Now that the BJP-led NDA has a clear mandate in the parliament, the new goverment has no reason to fulfill the electoral promises it made to the people of India.
(Picture Source: ndtv.com)
(AW: Pratima Tigga)
