From Kumar Rakesh and Anand Mishra

Allahabad: Asserting that the future belongs to it, the BJP today said its fortunes are on the rise, including in east and south India where it did not enjoy significant presence earlier, while that of Congress are on decline which is resorting to compromises with regional parties to survive.

Against the backdrop of Congress joining hands with INLD in Haryana and BSP in several states in the Rajya Sabha polls, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said, “On one hand the graph of BJP and Modi is on the rise while that of the main Opposition party is falling. They were deciding on their policies by compromising with regional parties.”

Addressing a press conference after the party’s National Executive adopted a political resolution, he also raised questions over relevance of Congress in Uttar Pradesh, which goes to the assembly polls early next year.

He recalled that when the first NDA government was formed, BJP was dubbed as a north Indian party and political rivals were not ready to accept it as a pan-India organisation and referred to its maiden victory in Assam and rise in vote share in Kerala and West Bengal as trends of its growth everywhere.

“The coming times belong to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and victory of our party and its ideology. BJP will emerge as a strong option in south and eastern India,” he said, adding that the country’s future and fate will change in future under Modi.

Gadkari was also dismissive of a change of guard in Congress for Uttar Pradesh where Madhusudan Mistry has been replaced by Ghulam Nabi Azad as AICC general secretary in-charge for the poll-bound state.

“Those who understand the politics of Uttar Pradesh know how much relevance Congress has there. Both we and you know that. It is up to Congress to make anybody its in-charge. What is the need to take some one seriously, who has no relevance? Let them bring any leader. All of us know what is the position of Congress here,” Gadkari said amid talks of some more changes in Congress UP team.

Gadkari steered clear of questions about BJP’s face for Uttar Pradesh in this assembly polls, saying it is the prerogative of the party president to take many organisational decisions and when the decision is taken, it will be informed.

Talking about the initiatives taken by Modi government in last two years, he said the results of the measures taken by the government have begun to yield results and the “integrated development” approach of the government for the poor, workers, villagers and also industry.

Crediting Modi government with ushering in “fast and corruption free” decision making in governance, he said the achievement is not only on the domestic front but Modi has also been recognised as a “world leader”, which has enhanced the country’s prestige.

“Modi’s thinking and vision are the most important reasons for our success,” Gadkari said, using the phrase “first time” repeatedly to highlight the government’s achievements in a number of spheres.

He said the government’s pro-poor and pro-farmer policies are clearly reflected in the resolutions, a claim that comes amid Opposition attack on Modi government’s alleged pro-rich tilt.

Facing questions over price rise particularly of pulses and drought in Bundelkhand, the Union minister said inflation has come down to 4.5 per cent from 18 per cent during the UPA regime but admitted that problems exist at many places.

“We are not claiming that 100 per cent work has been done.

But there is a positive trends towards development,” he said as he spoke at length about the government’s achievements in sectors like infrastructure, farm and development and reeled out figures of growth and huge allocations in various heads.

PTI