PANAJI, June 9: Ignoring perceived opposition from veteran L K Advani and some other senior leaders, BJP today anointed Narendra Modi as its Election Campaign Committee Chairman for the 2014 polls, just short of making him the Prime Ministerial candidate.
Modi, considered a polarising figure after the post-Godhra riots in 2002, was handed over the responsibility of the party’s election campaign at the two-day meeting of the National Executive from which Advani kept away citing ill health as did some other leaders including Jaswant Singh, Uma Bharati and Shatrughan Sinha.
“I want to give you a significant information. …I have announced (at the National Executive) that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as Chairman of the BJP Election Campaign Committee, keeping in mind the challenge of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and to achieve victory in the polls,” party President Rajnath Singh told the media at the conclusion of the deliberations.
The announcement, which was received with a huge round of clappoing and standing ovation in the meeting, was made in a terse statement by Singh who was flanked by Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, former President M Venkaiah Naidu, General Secretary Ananth Kumar among others. No questions were taken at the media interaction.
“Whatever has happened has happened on the basis of consensus,” Singh said without elaborating.
The decision to plump for Modi in a crucial role came after two days of deliberations and dilemma in a virtual gamble to galvanise the cadre ignoring the claims of Advani, so far considered tallest party leader after Vajpayee.
Shortly after his anointment, Modi declared at a public meeting that Goa has been lucky for him as in 2002 he had got the “licence” to run Gujarat.
“I am confident that I will complete the task that has been entrusted to me by Rajnathji,” he said to a thunderous applause from the party cadre.
In his 45-minute address, he referred to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee but did not once take the name of Advani, who is said to be having reservations over his elevation in the party. But he had earlier tweeted that he had talked to Advani and “got his blessings”.
Ironically, it was Advani who is said to have intervened in Goa in 2002 for Modi when Vajpayee wanted his resignation in the aftermath of the post-Godhra riots.
The public meeting, which was attended by Singh, Arun Jaitley among others, was skipped by senior leader Sushma Swaraj.
At the meeting, he launched the party’s campaign for the next year’s polls attacking the Congress, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi accusing them of “non serious” governance. He promised to carry forward the “unfinished agenda” of Vajpayee.
Earlier, anointing Modi, Singh said all parties view elections as a challenge and BJP also viewed the coming Lok Sabha elections as a challenge and Modi’s elevation was done keeping in mind the need to achieve victory.
“We are absolutely sure that the Congress-led UPA Government has lost the confidence of the people and are confident that the BJP will be voted to power in the 2014 elections,” he said.
Modi said in a tweet that Advani has given his “blessings” to him after Singh’s announcement.
“Spoke to Advaniji on the phone. He gave me his blessings. Honoured and extremely grateful to receive his blessings.”
“Senior leaders have reposed faith in me. We will leave no stone unturned for Congress-mukht bharat nirman (building India free of Congress). Thanks for support and blessings,” he said in another tweet message.
Today’s decision of BJP could also be seen as a gamble to perk up the party’s prospects after its defeat in two consecutive Lok Sabha elections.
Throughout the whole of yesterday, there was media speculation that the party could defer an announcement on Modi. One version was that Advani wanted that Modi should be made head of the campaign for the Assembly elections, including in states like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, later this year.
Party sources said Singh resolved the dilemma after it was felt the meeting should not conclude without a “result” as it would lead to demoralisation of the cadre. Hence, the announcement was made, they said.
The announcement of Modi’s elevation towards the end of Singh’s valedictory address at the National Executive session was received with cheers and standing ovation.
One of the delegates said there was clapping for five minutes as a signal of acceptance of the decision on Modi.
Addressing the rally, Rajnath Singh demanded resignation of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh contending that the CBI probe into coal block allocation pointed a finger at him.
Rajnath Singh wondered how a Prime Minister against whom allegations of corruption have been levelled can be a source of inspiration.
He accused Congress of giving slogans for eliminating poverty and unemployment but not fulfilling its poll promises.
“Congress has been in power for a maximum number of years post Independence. How much more time does it want to eliminate poverty and unemployment,” the BJP President asked.
Jaitley said Modi’s elevation in the party has encouraged workers to work hard towards achieving the goal of ousting Congress from power.
“Rajnath Singh’s decision has given a new dimension to politics,” he said, adding the elevation of Modi was a good beginning.
“Our goal is to oust Congress and form BJP-led Government at the Centre…Well begun is half done,” Jaitley said.
Modi attacked the UPA Government at the Centre and said the country needed to be free from Congress rule.
He accused Congress of taking people for granted and adopting a “non-serious” approach towards governance.
Modi said Congress did not believe in democratic institutions and was in no mood to accept the federal structure of the Constitution.
He claimed that the Congress established a National Advisory Council chaired by Sonia Gandhi to function over and above the Planning Commission.
“There was a time when Congress was in power from panchayat to Parliament. But when it began losing power in states, it never allowed other parties to complete their tenure in Government by misusing Article 356 (for imposing Central rule). At times it triggered defection in opposition parties and also turned Raj Bhavans (Governor’s residence) into Congress Bhavans,” Modi claimed.
Shortly after he was anointed BJP’s 2014 poll campaign chairman, Modi spoke to a sulking L K Advani and claimed that the party veteran had given him his blessings.
63-year-old Modi also declared that he would leave no stone unturned to oust Congress from power in the Centre.
“Spoke to Advaniji on the phone. He gave me his blessings. Honoured and extremely grateful to receive his blessings,” Modi tweeted minutes after he was appointed by BJP as chairman of its campaign committee for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
“Senior leaders have reposed faith in me. We will leave no stone unturned for Congress-Mukt Bharat Nirman. Thanks for support & blessings,” Modi said.
Meanwhile, in a scathing attack on Congress-led UPA, BJP today said rampant corruption, policy paralysis especially on economic issues, two power centres in the ruling dispensation and tampering with constitutional institutions has led to the present “dismal” situation in the country.
In a strongly-worded Political Resolution passed by the BJP at its National Executive Meet here, the main opposition said people are fed up of the UPA and called itself the only viable and credible alternative to the present regime.
BJP took on the Congress-led Government on three main issues: “obnoxious corruption; degradation of the economy; and a malignant assault on the federal spirit of our polity”.
The party said UPA-II had no achievements to show on completion of its four years in office last month.
Maintaining that there is a defective structure of leadership in the UPA, BJP charged that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is “merely in office and not in authority”.
Real powers of policy making are vested in Congress President Sonia Gandhi, it said.
The resolution, which was moved by former BJP President Nitin Gadkari, said the resultant indecision, inability and silence of the Prime Minister in the last nine years is at great cost to the country.
Corruption, as seen in a series of scams including coalgate, 2G spectrum and Commonwealth Games or the Agusta Westland helicopter deal, have led to a huge loss to the country, the resolution said, adding that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh cannot be absolved of all corruption as the controversial coal block allocations were done when he was the coal minister.
He was also reportedly aware of the manner in which the 2G spectrum allocations were being made, it alleged.
BJP also alleged that the Government has “deliberately and consistently” weakened the democratic institutions and interfered in the functioning their functioning be it the Election Commission, CVC, NHRC or CAG.
The main Opposition incorporated its comments on the state of the economy in the Political resolution in this conclave.
It said growth has slipped from 8.3 per cent during NDA rule to a “miserable” 5 per cent today.
It expressed concern over the “whiplash” of unemployment and paralysis in decision-making.
There is reverse flight in investment, and job creation has taken a big hit.
The right-wing party also said women are not safe under UPA rule and gender atrocity has become the order of the day.
In such a scenario, people want to throw out this Government and the only credible alternative in front of them is the BJP-led NDA.
An amendment to the resolution was brought by BJP National Executive member and Chief spokesperson J&K, Dr Jitendra Singh who said that while Congress ruled States and UPA at Centre unleashed a culture of corruption across the country even in the States where Congress is in coalition or supporting the ruling Party it has directly or indirectly.
He said even in J&K which has earned the dubious distinction of being number one state in corruption in the country, the Congress Party has maintained a silence of conspiracy to allow continuance of Omar Abdullah led coalition in the State on the directives of 10 Janpath which is a serious phenomenon for the sensitive State affected by terrorism.
“While Congress in New Delhi is fountain head of the corruption it has directly or indirectly promoted corruption in other States where it is singly handedly ruling or is in coalition with other parties,” Dr Jitendra Singh added.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s annointment today as chief of BJP’s Election Campaign Committee drew a muted response from key ally JD-U which said it is an “internal matter” of that party but was enthusiastically welcomed by other allies SAD and Shiv Sena.
Apparently playing down the elevation of Modi over whom it had reservations, JD-U, the BJP’s senior partner in Bihar’s ruling coalition, at the same time insisted that the NDA’s Prime Ministerial candidate will be decided by all constituents of the alliance.
“What BJP decides is that party’s internal matter. Whom they make the party president or chairman of a particular committee in their party is what concerns them.
“He (Modi) has not become NDA’s campaign committee chairman,” JD-U President Sharad Yadav told reporters over phone from Chennai.
Yadav, who is also NDA convenor, at the same time, said that NDA functioned for 17 years according to its national agenda and “whoever becomes the PM candidate has to accept that national agenda”.
He said that NDA’s PM candidate will be decided in NDA after BJP declares its candidate.
“BJP will decide its PM candidate and then it will be brought up before NDA. NDA’s PM candidate will be decided by NDA, with BJP and all its contituents,” Yadav said, indicating that his party’s reservations on Modi as BJP’s PM candidate continues.
JD-U’s and, in particular, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s antipathy towards Modi is well-known.
“He(Modi) has been made chairman of the BJP’s poll campaign committee, not the NDA’s,” said senior JD (U) leader Devesh Chandra Thakur.
Echoing Yadav’s views, Thakur said Modi’s new responsibility was an internal matter of the BJP. “BJP president Rajnath Singh has assured us that NDA allies would be consulted before any decision on the NDA’s PM nominee. That’s good enough for us,” he told reporters.
Shiromani Akali Dal supremo and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal described as a “master-stroke” Modi’s appointment and said it was a knockout punch against a “staggering” UPA Government.
“This has already sent shock-waves in the UPA and completely demoralised it, as is borne out by nervous reactions of their leaders,” he said in a statement.
SAD leader and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said the decision would be “catalytic” in the alliance’s victory march in the next General Elections.
“We welcome the appointment of Narendra Modi… We have expressed our good wishes to Modi,” Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut told reporters.
He said party president Uddhav Thackeray, who is abroad, called up Modi and congratulated him.
“Modi is an efficient leader and popular among masses. Appointing him as the head of BJP’s election campaign will help the NDA to oust the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre,” Raut said.
Meanwhile, BJP patriarch L K Advani today made no mention of the anointment of Narendra Modi in his address for an event in which he broke his silence over his ill health that forced him to stay away from the party’s goa meet.
Advani, who had reservations on anointing Modi, a move considered just short of making him BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, did not speak a word about any political matter or issues which were taken up at the party’s national executive meeting in Goa.
In his 11-minute recorded address, Advani recalled his friendship with Pandit Sriram Dave in whose memory a lecture was organised here.
In his video conference address in Jaipur, Advani said he was having stomach upset for the last three days because of which he could not attend the party’s Goa meet.
“This morning, I told Sadhvi Priti Priynvada in Jaipur on phone tendering my apology for not attending her event…For the last three consecutive days health was so indisposed…Due to stomach upset…Loose motions are frequent…This is the reason I could not go to attend our most important national executive meeting in Goa,” he said in his speech in Hindi, recorded and sent from Delhi. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel