Following BJP's record win in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the state's love for BJP despite it being in power for 25 years was unprecedented. Addressing party workers from BJP's headquarters in Delhi, PM Modi said the support to BJP showed people's anger against dynasty rule and corruption.
"Gujarat's love for BJP despite it being in power for 25 years is unprecedented, they have broken all records, written history," PM Modi said.
"People voted for BJP as it is taking all facilities to the poor and middle class at the earliest. Support to BJP shows people's anger against dynasty rule and corruption," he further said.
Riding on the charisma of PM Modi, who addressed 31 election rallies in his home state, the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) steamrolled the opposition Congress and an aggressive Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) by winning 157 of the 182 seats in Gujarat with a vote share of nearly 53 per cent, which is the highest for any party in the western state.
So far, Congress' tally of 149 in the 1985 Assembly election under the leadership of Madhavsinh Solanki held the record for most number of seats won by a party in the state.
"I had told the people of Gujarat that this time Narendra's record should be broken. I promised that Narendra will work hard so that Bhupendra can break Narendra's record. Gujarat has broken all records by giving the biggest mandate to BJP in the history of Gujarat," PM Modi said.
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Reacting to the verdict in Himachal Pradesh, where the Congress has wrested power from the BJP, he thanked voters of the hill state for their affection and support to the BJP and said his party will keep working to fulfil the aspirations of the state and raise people's issues in the times to come.
"I also want to thank the voters of Himachal. The difference between the number of votes for BJP and Congress was less than 1%," PM Modi said at the BJP HQ.
The Prime Minister also said BJP was now getting support from all sections of society. "BJP won 34 of 40 reserved seats for SC, ST in Gujarat polls," PM Modi said.
"The results of Gujarat have proved how strong is the desire of the common man for a developed India. The message is clear that whenever there is a challenge before the country, people show their faith in BJP," he further said.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi said he was overcome with a lot of emotions on the "phenomenal election results".
"People blessed politics of development and at the same time expressed a desire that they want this momentum to continue at a greater pace. I bow to Gujarat's Jan Shakti," PM Modi tweeted.
Praising party workers in Gujarat, PM Modi "each of them is a champion". "This historic win would never be possible without the exceptional hardwork of our Karyakartas, who are the real strength of our Party," he said.
The outcome of Gujarat election comes as a major boost for PM Narendra Modi's popularity for the national elections slated to be held in 2024. It will also be a springboard for BJP's preparations for elections to Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh next year.