Ratified by the National Council as President, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah on Saturday sought fresh milestones by seeking victory in the coming elections in all the four states saying the country was still not "Congress-free" while Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress and others of playing vote-bank politics.
In his address to the National Council, the first party gathering after its landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections, Shah said time has come to spread the BJP ideology and expand its reach across the country like the Congress did all these years, saying the party cannot rule for long otherwise.
"For long, Congress 'vichar' (thought) has been pre-dominant in the country's politics. Now, it is time to ensure that our 'vichar' (thought) has an imprint on the nation's politics," said Shah, architect of BJP's victory in crucial Uttar Pradesh winning 73 out of 80 seats there in Lok Sabha polls.
"The country is yet to be rid of Congress. The cadres should keep this in mind... Assembly elections are coming in four states of Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
"We need to ensure that we get absolute majority in all these states. This is our foremost priority. But our long-term objective is to provide good governance to the entire country," he told the conclave attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior leaders like LK Advani, MM Joshi and outgoing party chief Rajnath Singh.
Winding up the day-long proceedings, Modi hailed Shah as the "man of the match" for the Lok Sabha poll victory under Rajnath Singh's captaincy. (Read more)
But he did not let go the opportunity to come out with a stinging attack on Congress and SP in the wake of rising incidents of communal violence in Uttar Pradesh. He accused them of playing vote-bank politics and dividing the society.
"BJP never accepts such incidents (of violence). Peace, unity, harmony and brotherhood are the pre-requisites of progress and there will be no compromise on this.
"Some people who have suffered a massive defeat are still not able to desist from engaging in old vote-bank politics. They are engaged in disturbing the social fabric of the country," Modi said in his 40-minute speech heard with rapt attention.
The Prime Minister said that at this juncture the unity of the country and the society was paramount. "If we have to take the nation forward, then all the 125 crore people will have to move forward," he said.
Read more on Narendra Modi's jibe at Congress and Samajwadi Party
Shah, whose presidentship was ratified at the National Council meeting by a standing ovation by members, hit out at the Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh saying the law and order situation in the state is a matter of "serious concern" because of its "biased" attitude.
He alleged law and order in the state is decided on the basis of "religion".
Noting that BJP has 73 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state, Shah said the party has "greater responsibility" than the state government in ensuring peace in the state. "We have to exercise restraint. But we have to spread awareness about the vote-bank and appeasement policy being followed by the state government," the party chief said.
After losing the bye-elections to all the three seats in Uttarakhand, including two seats held by BJP, Shah told party workers "not to be complacent" and have a "hunger for victory" and set a target for "absolute majority" for the party in the upcoming assembly polls in the four states.
Doing some plainspeaking, Shah told them that the party would not be in government for long unless its reach expands and exhorted all ministers to work for implementation of the party manifesto.
The Council also adopted a political resolution moved by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley which assured the people that the government will keep up its good performance and will redeem the pledges given to people in a definite timeframe.
"We have many challenges on the national and international arena. The government has started on a positive note. It is focusing on education, health, agriculture, water, irrigation, infrastructure, urbanization and overall job creation. It will redeem the pledges given to the people in a definite timeframe," the resolution said.
BJP Patriarch LK Advani, who was all praise for Prime Minister Modi, said "I feel he will surely accomplish all that the nation wants of him."
He said people expect a lot from BJP after its landslide victory and party workers and leaders have to show determination in fulfilling their aspirations. Advani said the party will not be judged by how ministers work but on how workers conduct themselves in public and deal with people.
"Winning the coming assembly elections may be our immediate priority. But our long-term objective is to provide good governance to the entire country," Shah said, complimenting the Team Modi for keeping the "strong foundation" and giving a "solid roadmap" in the last 75 days to lead the nation in the coming times.
He did not name any of the party's allies including its oldest ideological ally the Shiv Sena, while telling partymen that there will be a BJP-led government both in Maharashtra as well as in Haryana. In Haryana, BJP is in alliance with Haryana Janhit Congress which is facing problems.
He said the unprecedented victory for the party has also brought a challenge.
Shah told party workers that BJP's victory marks "the beginning of the end of Congress era" and lauded Modi as a leader in post-independence generation who has established himself as "a harbinger of the golden era of good governance".
"The verdict of this election is a clear rejection of the politics of dynasty, appeasement and vote bank. It also is an undisputed triumph of hope and aspirations of the people of India," he said.
Good governance, he said, can be delivered only by ideology-inspired leadership.
In an hour-long presidential address, Shah said the need of the hour is to strengthen both the organization and the government and any laxity on one front will affect the other.
All you need to know on what happened at BJP's National Council meet
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