PM Modi talks of new India; says govt will be for those who voted for BJP and those who did not

A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) resounding victory in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the slogan of a "New India", in which the empowered poor would reduce the burden on the middle class.

Modi dedicated Sunday evening to BJP workers, walking up to the party headquarters for a short stretch, waving to people along the road, cordoned off on both sides, and addressing them. "I am seeing a new India, the India of the dreams of India's youth. A new India of the dreams of our youth, women... where the poor are not asking what you are giving them but want opportunity," he said.

He described 2022, 75 years of India's independence, as the first milestone, saying he was not going by elections. Earlier, BJP President Amit Shah said the that BJP will return with a bigger mandate in 2019.

Taking forward the message of inclusivity that ran through the recent elections, Modi reached out to the middle class, saying that they bore financial and social burdens. "It should reduce. Once the poor is empowered, it will take off this burden on the middle class. I can see it happening in a new India," he said.

Modi also reached out to another section—those who did not vote for the BJP. In what can be seen as a subtle message for the minorities, he said that the BJP governments were for those who voted for the party and those who did not.

"The government and the BJP have no right to discriminate," he said. The BJP had won 312 of the 403 seats, but the Muslim vote had gone to the SP and BSP. The Prime Minister said that while the majority chose governments, they were run by consensus.

He said there were elected candidates whose faces had never appeared on television or in the media. "You have faith. Some of them have less experience. They will toil hard to fufill your aspirations," he said. There is speculation that the BJP could put up a dark horse as UP chief minister even as there are at least five front runners for the job. After a meeting of the parliamentary board later, Union minister JP Nadda said that Shah will take a decision on the chief ministers of four states—UP, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.

Adopting a philosophical tone, Modi cautioned party workers about the "responsibility of being humble" that came with victory. He compared it with a tree which bends when it bears fruit. Describing it as a golden era for the BJP, he said that it had come with perseverance. He asked them to launch a movement for development.

The Prime Minister, who arrived amidst chants of "Modi, Modi" and petals being showered on him, had earlier unveiled a "IAmNewIndia" exercise, a pledge to build a new India, on the NaMo App.

He took the opportunity to take on his critics. "The scale of victory should force the political pundits to rethink... Apart from emotional issues, development is a major issue. In the past, parties hesitated to go into election on development. It's necessary to see that despite lack of emotional issues, the voting percentage was so high. I can see a new Hindustan."

He recalled how senior leaders like LK Advani, AB Vajpayee and Kushabhau Thakre toiled through their life to spread the message of the party. "We have become the symbol of people's hope and aspirations... This result is also an emotional issue for us. This is the birth centenary year of Deendayal Upadhyay."

He said that the support for BJP had grown. "Winning election is one thing, but to take the BJP to every nook and corner is a service to democracy," he said.

He called upon every citizen to make one pledge a year. "Then we will not lag behind," he said. Modi recalled the three things he had said in 2014: We are new and can make mistakes, but will not do anything with wrong intent; will work hard and whatever we do will be with credibility.