No past PM managed to secure victory in so many states in 3 years of office

New Delhi: While addressing BJP parliamentary party meet in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke down thrice.

Modi became emotional while saying that none of his predecessors in the PMO had managed to secure victory in so many states in the three years after assuming office.

Modi recalled how Atalji patted him on his back many times after the BJP won a majority in Gujarat in the 1990s. Modi reminded his MPs that no one should be under the illusion that Gujarat victory was an easy one. Gujarat BJP had lost two strong leaders, Keshubhai Patel and Shankersinh Vaghela, in recent times who both were from strong communities. Yet BJP managed to win. People support you if you work with dedication. Modi asked the leaders to reach out to the grassroots level and work hard.

Prime Minister Modi called for strengthening the BJP at its roots for a win in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and also pitched for promoting young faces inside and outside the party.

Modi pushed for promoting the younger generation for a “New India”, a vision for 2022 promoted by his government.

Modi, who was given a standing ovation by party leaders on the BJP’s recent electoral victories in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, urged them not to be affected by the opposition’s “disinformation” campaign against the party, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar told reporters.

Booth level work, which is the root of a poll campaign, is the mother of an election victory, Kumar quoted Modi as saying.

“He called for strengthening the party at its roots across the country,” Kumar said.

Party sources said Modi turned emotional a few times as he recalled how the party organisation was built in Gujarat and young leaders were groomed by their seniors, including former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

No party in power at the Centre had done this well in elections across the country in over three years of tenure as the BJP had done, Modi said, referring to its winning streak in Assembly elections.

Seeking the promotion of young leaders at every level in the organisation, Modi referred to his association with party president Amit Shah, who was present at today’s meeting, and spoke about how he groomed Shah, 14 years younger to the prime minister, they said.

“Modi called for strengthening the party at its roots across the country. He said the work at the booth level is most important, beside people’s blessings to the party, for creating a wave in its favour,” Kumar told reporters after the meeting.

Modi wanted younger generations to be connected with party work, social work and for building the nation. He noted that the “millennial generation” would be eligible to vote from 2018.

In his address, Shah attacked the Congress over its claim of a moral victory in the Gujarat polls, saying it was a “laughable exercise” for the opposition party to see victory in defeat.

By getting more than 49 per cent of the votes, the BJP had received its highest share in the last many elections, including in 2012, when it won 116 seats against the 99 this time.