Narendra Modi, 57, who created history by being the first BJP chief minister to ever return to power after a full term in office.
AHMEDABAD: Narendra Modi, 57, who created history by being the first BJP chief minister to ever return to power after a full term in office, spoke to DNA on the victory and its import. Excerpts:
Q. What does this victory mean to you? Has Brand Modi won? Or is it the BJP?
A. The entire credit for this victory is neither mine nor that of the BJP party. It is a victory for the people of Gujarat. I dedicate it to the five-and-a-half crore Gujaratis and humbly accept the verdict of the people.
Q. The campaigning in the run-up to the polls had turned vicious. There had been charges and counter-charges. What do you have to say?
A. People have rejected the anti-development mentality and have defeated the forces who were out to defame Gujarat. It’s a positive vote this time from the people. We have been winning since 1999 with a two-thirds majority. During the campaigning, new phrases, terms and ideas were coined, but the people rejected all that to give further strength to Gujarat.
This verdict will bring a qualitative change in the existing political system in the country. People have given a message that one should not be beholden to the beliefs of the past - that it is not possible to win elections on a development agenda, and that good governance is bad politics.
Q. The campaign remained Modi-centric and it seemed like everything was focused on you. Where was the role of the party and the RSS?
A. I am profoundly thankful to my party, the BJP and its senior leaders for reposing their faith in me as a worker of the party. This victory is historic, the fifth consecutive one since 1990.
The credit for this successive victory goes to the people of Gujarat, lakhs of dedicated workers and the guidance of the central leadership. Lakhs of patriotic swayamsewaks (RSS workers), leaders of society and spiritual leaders who have considered the interests of Gujarat above everything else have been together in this victory.
Q. Now that you are going to be CM for the third term, where do you go from now?
A. Gujarat will celebrate its Golden Jubilee in 2010. The nation expects too many things from us. I want that dream to be carried forward and invite everyone to accomplish that.
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