- Not just good performance, the BJP needs to retain the party-run state government, while dislodging the opposition-run states like Rajasthan and Chattisgarh: Nadda
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a road show to celebrate the Gujarat victory where the party had won unprecedented 156 seats, largest number by any party in the state
- The party will celebrate the 200 year anniversary of Arya Samaj founder Swami Dayanand Saraswati on February 13
NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, JAN 16
With an eye on the Lok Sabha elections next year, the BJP will focus on winning all the nine assembly elections scheduled to be held this year. Not just good performance, the BJP needs to retain the party-run state government, while dislodging the opposition-run states like Rajasthan and Chattisgarh. BJP president J.P. Nadda said the party cadre should work hard to achieve this goal.
Nadda was speaking during the inauguration of the BJP’s two-day national executive meeting held in Delhi to strategise for the assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Before the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a road show to celebrate the Gujarat victory where the party had won unprecedented 156 seats, largest number by any party in the state. Party cadre and supporters lined up in the over a kilometer long route to the venue of the meeting as Modi held the roadshow in his official vehicle. The party had gathered people in numbers, along with performers from different states along the route to play their local beats.
The meeting venue was decked in party colours, with slogans of welfare of poor, and cut outs of technological advancements like Vande Bharat train, Rafale jets, Brahmos, satellites and navy warship on one side, while cultural sites developed by the government including Kartarpur corridor, Kashi Vishwanath temple, Mahakal Temple in Ujjain, the statue of Subash Chander Bose and Sardar Patel on the other side of the venue. The BJP’s messaging was aimed at cultural renaissance along with the technological advancements in the country’s 75th year of Independence.
Nadda asked all members of the national executive to be ready with commitment to win all the nine assembly elections in 2023 as a prelude to Lok Sabha elections. “We should not lose any state,” BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said briefing media about Nadda’s speech.
Prasad, quoting Nadda, said the party had decided to strengthen the weak booths. “In this process, 72,000 booths were identified, 100 in one Lok Sabha seat, while 25 in an assembly seat. But the party overachieved the target as it reached 1.32 lakh booths. Being a cadre based party, BJP achieved it target,” Prasad said.
The BJP chief hailed the Gujarat victory as extraordinary, saying the party strategy of hard work be replicated in all the other states. The way Modi led from the front, the other state government should put in same hard work, Nadda said.
In case of Himachal Pradesh elections, where the BJP lost, Nadda said though the party wanted to change the tradition, it could not do so. “Earlier, the losses were minimum of five percent, but in Himachal, the BJP lost by merely 37,000 votes—about one percent less than the winning party. It’s a matter of satisfaction, but we need to work more,” Nadda said.
In Telangana, Nadda said the manner in which people had responded to its yatra, the BJP will form the government there.
He said the party will celebrate the 200 year anniversary of Arya Samaj founder Swami Dayanand Saraswati on February 13. The prime minister is also expected to participate in the event.
The BJP chief also talked about measures taken by the government for the poor and the marginalised. He highlighted the work being done for Ram Temple construction on the lines of temples built in the ancient India.
Nadda talked about Modi’s five resolutions announced during the last Independence Day speech. “Nadda said the world now recognises the Indian government initiatives, like President Joe Biden did for India’s Covid management or Russian president Vladamir Putin praised India’s independent foreign policy,” Prasad said citing Nadda’s speech.
Talking about the Tiranga Yatra, Nadda said 4.15 crore houses hoisted the flag. It was celebrated with fervour in North East. “It’s a great mainstreaming of the northeast in India. PM has been there many times,” Prasad said.
Nadda talked about the self reliance India was achieving in various fields, be it mobiles, autos, fintech, startups or construction of highways and border roads.
Modi’s roadshow: Traffic movement affected in central Delhi
Thankful to all those who came and showered their blessings. pic.twitter.com/N4a1v3yDQW
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 16, 2023
The roadshow from Patel Chowk roundabout on Sansad Marg to Jai Singh Road Junction drew a large crowd as the event began at 3 pm.
Though special arrangements were made to ensure smooth traffic management in the vicinity of the roadshow’s route, vehicular movement was affected in and around the area of the roadshow, the traffic police said.
Pictures from the National Executive meeting in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/VVfRhm3E1d
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 16, 2023
Since Ashoka Road (Windsor Place to GPO, both carriageways), Jai Singh Road, Sansad Marg, Tolstoy Road (Janpath to Sansad Marg), Rafi Marg (Rail Bhawan roundabout to Sansad Marg), Jantar Mantar Road, Imtiaz Khan Marg and Bangla Sahib Lane remained closed from 2:30 pm to 5 pm, commuters were forced to take alternate routes.
Due to the roadshow, traffic congestion was witnessed on Baba Kharak Singh Road, Outer Circle Connaught Place, Park Street/Shankar Road, Minto Road, Mandir Marg, Barakhambha Road, Panchkuain Road, Raisina Road, Tolstoy Road, Janpath, Firozeshah Road, Rafi Marg (from Sunheri Masjid to Rail Bhawan), Rani Jhansi Road, DBG Road, Chelmsford Road, Bhai Veer Singh Marg, DDU Marg, Ranjit Singh flyover, Talkatora Road and Pandit Pant Marg.
A commuter said, “Though an advisory was issued and police personnel were present, traffic congestion was still seen on Baba Kharak Singh Road and Outer Circle of Connaught Place. Due to congestion, I couldn’t reach my destination on time.”
Another commuter stuck at Mandir Marg said, “Vehicular movement was affected even though diversions were suggested. We had to suffer waiting on the roads and it caused delay in our work.”
According to the traffic police, due to congestion on specified routes, vehicles were diverted from Gol Dak Khana, Gurdwara Rakab Ganj, Windsor roundabout, Rail Bhawan, Outer Connaught Circus-Sansad Marg Junction, Raisina Road-Jantar Mantar Road Junction, Janpath/Tolstoy Road Junction and Tolstoy Road-KG Marg.
Commuters travelling to New Delhi Railway Station, Old Delhi Railway, Nizamuddin Railway Station, ISBT and the IGI airport were suggested to leave early to accommodate possible delays on the route.
The traffic police had also urged people to avail public transport to help decongestion of roads and asked commuters to park their vehicles only at designated parking lots.
