Modi’s leadership biggest factor behind mandate, says Bhupender Yadav

NEW DELHI: BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav, who played a key role in crafting the party’s electoral strategy in several states said while the opposition tried to fight the election on the basis of lies and misinformation, the BJP won a 300-plus mandate for continuation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the primacy the party accorded to social welfare and national prestige.

ON WINNING 300-PLUS SEATS
Policies to improve the life of the poor, proper and transparent implementation of projects, and focus on national security, economy and national prestige increased significantly under the Modi government. People have voted to ensure that these continue under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership.


ON THE BIGGEST FACTOR
The biggest narrative was the leadership of PM Modi. Second, after a long time, the people of India saw a government that worked tirelessly – a PM who did not take a single day’s leave in his five-year term. Definitely, the government’s social welfare schemes that reached the people also had a major impact. Then, it was the BJP national president Amit Shah’s organisational strength – the ten crore members of the party down to the booth level and the role they had in taking the message of the government’s achievements and our political ideology to the people.

These are all key factors that formed the base and basis of this victory.

ON OPPOSITION ALLIANCE
First, people have negated dynasty-based, family-based vote banks.

No caste or family can lay claim to a vote bank. Second, people have voted for good governance. Three, the mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) had lost its credibility and prestige earlier on itself. It was only the perception of some people, and after this election even that illusion has come to an end.

ON BJP’S ALLIANCE PARTNERS
BJP has always adhered to the gathbandhan dharma and is committed to it. The party, the PM and party president Amit Shah have always said so as well. Even where the BJP has come with majority, we have always taken our alliance partners along with us.

ON THE BITTER ELECTION CAMPAIGN
The opposition tried to fight this election on the basis of lies and misinformation. That is why they even had to apologise to the court in an affidavit for lying, a first in an election. They tried to propagate misperceptions and misinformation, even on the election process. Today, the results are before everyone. In the end, lies have been defeated and the truth has prevailed. Now that results are before us, the government is for everyone and for the good of all 130 crore Indians.

ON PRAGYA’S GODSE COMMENT
That subject is over now. She has apologised.

ON THE BENGAL CONTEST
In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee’s party and government used violence. It was for the first time that the BJP president’s roadshow was attacked and opposition leaders’ rallies were not being allowed – not just ours but also those of the Left and Congress party leaders.

There is no place for violence in a democracy and in West Bengal democracy has won and violence has lost.

ON ELECTION COMMISSION
The Election Commission worked with neutrality and in a non-partisan manner, and very prominent persons in the country have also recently observed so. It is a commendable achievement to conduct an election of this scale covering 130 crore people, and the huge surge in women voters also indicates that it is a completely fear-free environment that allowed them to do so.

Even the increase in the number of young voters is a good sign.

The EC must be congratulated.