It’s Poll-time Talk Again
NEW DELHI: Firmly in the saddle at the centre, the BJP has now set its eyes on ensuring that the poll-time slogan of a “Congress-mukt” India is achieved in the states too. This other political message was that the BJP would be extending its ideological push beyond the cow belt to the East and the South as well. The BJP’s national council meet held for the first time after the party won the Lok Sabha polls had symbology both of men and matters.
With Amit Shah, Modi’s Man Friday, anointed formally as the party’s president, the 3,000-odd party audience at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium seemed energised to achieve the impossible. That task is the party’s single-handed win in the border state of Jammu and Kashmir, a Muslim-majority state that elected BJP in three of its six seats in the Lok Sabha polls. Amit Shah also announced that party would go it alone in Haryana polls if the alliance in the state with Janhit Congress of Kuldip Bishnoi failed; if not, the party would to contest in at least half of the 90 Assembly seats. The party’s approach in the poll-bound states of Maharashtra and Jharkhand would be aggressive. Shah said the party would go in for a membership drive starting November 1, to boost strength at all polling booth levels. He said he began at the booth level and had now risen to president through hard work.
The party’s attack was by linking the Congress and the Samajwadi Party with communalism; Modi aid “Those who have suffered a massive defeat in the elections are still not able to desist from engaging in old vote-bank politics.”
Other speakers like Arun Jaitley, Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Manohar Parikkar noted that the idea of India had changed for the better at the international level after the BJP formed a majority government at the centre. “Earlier, US and other European nations used to come to India to sell arms, but now they want to co-develop and jointly produce weapons along with India,” Modi said.
It had all the signs of a poll meet: Modi said India’s development focus will not be at the cost of the poor. “Should we go with the farmer’s interest or with international commitment?”
God’s Own Drumbeat
Fourteen folk Kerala musicians including traditional drummers welcomed party delegates at the auditorium entrance inside the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. So what if the party couldn’t open its account?
His Master’s Applause
When Narendra Modi got up to speak, the new party President Amit Shah prodded the entire auditorium to give him a standing ovation. Unlike during earlier meets, patriarch LK Advani seemed to be happy to join in. He stood up from his chair and clapped for his one-time protege turned bete noire.
MENU MATTERS
Where there are bouquets there would be nrickbats. Party delegates from other states complained about seating arrangements and overcrowding. Even the quality of the lunch announced by Amit Shah was grumbled upon. “It was simple but tasteless, especially the palak paneer. However, the sweets are good.” The BJP had directed the company to serve local and south Indian cuisines. “Direction were given (to the caterers) that the food should be simple and be low in fat content. No creamy or spicy food either,” said a local leader. The crockery was from Delhi’s Alipur area and catering was by Gurgaon based company Purple Berry. Food for thought?
iPad Photofinish
Technomania met adoration center stage as Meenakshi Lekhi, BJP MP from New Delhi turned photographer on her iPad, which had a saffron cover. She kept taking pictures of Modi during his address and was tweeting away merrily.
Women’s Day Out
Time seemed to be running out for some CMs. There was a pecking order for CM speeches: first Madhya Pradesh’s Shivraj Singh Chauhan, then Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parikkar followed by Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje and Gujarat’s Anandiben Patel. After Parikkar finished, Amit Shah apologised to the ladies saying it was getting late and the council would take up the political resolution instead. But the women got massive prominence on stage—a dozen of women, comprising ministers and office bearers.
Compliments for two
The day belonged to the new party President, Amit Shah, and he stole the thunder from all except his mentor Narendra Modi. This fact was admitted by all in their speeches including Modi, Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and party patriarch L K Advani. Modi called him the Man of the Match of the past elections while Rajnatjh was named the Captain of the team.