The BJP on Saturday made optimum use of party chief Amit Shah’s filing of nomination papers at Gandhinagar to show the unity of purpose among NDA constituents as key leaders including the likes of Parkash Singh Badal, Uddhav Thackeray and Ram Vilas Paswan attended the grand show.
Speaking on the occasion, Shiv Sena Chief Mr Thackeray said while there have been differences between his party and the BJP during the last five years, it is the vast experience of 25 years that had cemented unity between the two parties and will now work in the future.
“Hamare dil miley haen (We are one in mind and heart),” Mr Thackeray said and even mocked at the failure of the opposition camp to show such an unity of purpose.
“Once I and Mr Shah met, we have resolved the differences,” he said adding perhaps many of NDA detractors would be unhappy and surprised to see him (Thackeray) attend the show at Gandhinagar where BJP Chief is filing nomination papers.
“Those who feel bad about it, are guided by their habits,” Mr Thackeray said.
“Two decades back, both BJP and Shiv Sena were nowhere. Except for Mr Badal (of Akali Dal), none were with us, we were like untouchables. But we carried on the march carrying the saffron flag and it worked. Ultimately the saffron flag was unfurled at the seat of power in Delhi,” he said.
Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Ram Vilas Paswan, a key NDA leader in Bihar, said even before 2014 he had said there will be no vacancy for the post of Prime Ministers till 2024.
“We are confident of forming a NDA government yet again…this government had remained committed to the welfare of the people and especially the deprived communities,” he said.
Akali Dal leader and former Punjab Chief Minister Mr Badal also exuded confidence in NDA coming to power yet again.
All these leaders including two former BJP chiefs Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari urged the voters of Gandhinagar to give a decisive mandate yet again to the saffron party nominee in this seat.
Gandhinagar has been a strong BJP bastion since 1989 and none other than BJP patriarch L K Advani has been winning the seat since 1998.
Mr Rajnath Singh used the occasion to slam the Congress and the UPA regime for not showing the political will after 26/11 Mumbai siege.
Mr Singh gave credit to his successor Amit Shah as BJP chief for making the saffron outfit the largest party in the country.
“We in the BJP are also committed to work in alliance with all our NDA partners. For us, alliance is not a matter of compulsion, it is a matter of commitment,” Mr Singh said.
The occasion was also addressed by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
Polling for all the 26 seats of Gujarat will take place in third phase on April 23. In 2014, the saffron party had won all the seats.
In brief remarks, Mr Shah said, “I had started long back in 1982 as a booth worker and whatever I am today, I owe it to my party”.
“The coming election is only of one issue….Who will lead this country and from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, we get to hear only one name – Narendra Modi,” Mr Shah said. (UNI)
