PM Modi Sounds Poll Bugle for 2019 as BJP National Exec Meet Ends
The BJP has decided to defer the internal elections for a new chief until the next year’s elections.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his valedictory address of the BJP National Executive Meet on Sunday, 9 September, gave “Ajeya Bharat, Atal BJP” as the slogan for the 2019 elections.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh moved a political resolution on the second day of the Meet on Sunday praising PM Modi's 'Vision 2022'. Later in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the valedictory session of the meet.
On Saturday, party president Amit Shah called the united opposition an alliance of lies and falsehood.
- “The Opposition only believes in ‘Modi roko abhiyan’,” Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Sunday
- The BJP has decided to fight 2019 LS polls under Amit Shah’s leadership. A source close to the party told The Quint that internal elections for a new chief have been deferred
- The two-day meeting was by its key leaders from all states and Union territories besides its national leadership
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BJP National Executive Meet Begins Today
A two-day national executive meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will commence on Saturday, 8 September in New Delhi.
The conclave was earlier slated for 18-19 August. However, the party had decided to postpone it in the wake of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s demise on 16 August. The former prime minister is expected to loom large over the proceedings, according to The Times of India.
The executive will pay tribute to the former prime minister, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told PTI.
(With PTI inputs)
Amit Shah Inaugurates BJP National Conclave
On Saturday morning, BJP President Amit Shah inaugurated the BJP conclave, flanked by his party’s office-bearers, at Delhi's Ambedkar International Centre.
What to Expect at BJP National Executive Meet?
At the conclave, the BJP is expected to articulate its response to the Opposition's combined attack on the government over the rise in oil prices, as well as formulate its strategy for the state Assembly polls and the Lok Sabha elections.
It comes against the backdrop of signs of unrest among upper castes, a core support base of the saffron party, over its push for pro-Dalit laws to woo the backward community.
The issues of the National Register of Citizens, passage of key bills – including the one to restore the original provisions of the law on atrocities against Dalits and another that accorded constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) – in Parliament will come up for discussion at the national executive meet, sources told PTI.
BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters the executive will discuss all the topical issues. He, though, did not elaborate further.
The sources said the hike announced by the government in the Minimum Support Price for a number of farm produce and the rise in the economic growth in the last quarter to 8.2 per cent would also find a mention, besides the ongoing "Gram Swaraj" campaign to cover the poor with a host of welfare programmes.
Modi has often cited his government's pro-poor programmes and push for laws to empower the Dalits and Other Backward Classes as an evidence of its work for "social justice", a theme likely to be picked by the BJP national executive.
The BJP is likely to present itself as a party that has promoted the interests of the backward classes – a constituency it has constantly been wooing to big electoral successes since 2014.
Party leaders said the government's "honest" image and "successful" handling of the economy, besides the Hindutva credentials of the organisation, would keep its core constituency tethered to it in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
They added that the likely alliance of its rivals such as the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samajwadi Party and other regional parties would be a red herring for the upper castes.
Venue a Symbolism for BJP's Dalit Outreach
Significantly, the BJP has chosen Delhi’s Ambedkar International Centre for hosting the conclave. The organisation works to promote the works and ideas of Dalit icon BR Ambedkar, making the venue a symbolism for its Dalit outreach. The Quint’s Neeraj Gupta explains.
However, the party will have to do a balancing act as groups claiming to represent the upper castes – its core vote bank – have been protesting the government's decision to restore the original and stringent provisions of a law on atrocities against Dalits and tribals, after the Supreme Court had relaxed those.
The groups had called a "Bharat Bandh" on Thursday.
Senior BJP leader Kalraj Mishra has gone on record seeking a rethink on the law, which non-Dalits/tribals claim is often misused.
We Will Come With an Absolute Majority: Amit Shah
"We will come with an absolute majority. Sankalp ki shakti ko koi parajit nahi kar sakta," said BJP President Amit Shah at the BJP’s office-bearers meeting. The Quint’s Neeraj Gupta elaborates.
"Bharat Mata and Lotus should be your mul mantra till 2019. Be in touch with the beneficiaries of the Central government schemes. The Opposition is not going to get anything by spreading confusion,” he added.
BJP To Fight 2019 Polls Under Amit Shah
The BJP will fight 2019 Lok Sabha polls under Amit Shah's leadership, a source told The Quint. The party has decided to defer the internal elections for a new chief, the source added. Amit Shah’s term was due to end in January 2019.
Amit Shah to Kick Off Poll Campaign in Telangana on 15 September
BJP president Amit Shah will kick off the party's campaign for assembly polls in Telangana with a public meeting at Mahabubnagar on 15 September, PTI reported.
National leaders of the party and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states are also expected take part in the campaign, BJP MLC N Ramachander Rao told PTI.
According to ANI, BJP President Amit Shah held discussions over the elections in all states and said they will contest election with full force in Telangana.
Senior Leaders Arrive for BJP's National Executive Meet
Senior BJP leaders Lal Krishna Advani, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Suresh Prabhu and Sushma Swaraj arrive at Ambedkar International Centre for BJP National Executive meeting.
Prime Minister Modi Arrives for BJP National Executive Meet
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah, senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley have arrived at BJP National Executive Meet at Ambedkar International Centre.
Nirmala Sitharaman Addresses the BJP National Executive Meet
Addressing the National Executive Meet, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that party president Amit Shah paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said that this is the first executive meet without Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Sitharaman briefed the media on Shah’s speech to the members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and said that Shah has called the alliance between the opposition parties for the 2019 polls an alliance of lies and falsehood.
Shah also attacked the opposition for moving a no-confidence motion against the government and said, “The opposition is in denial and they tried to stage a no-confidence motion but they didn’t succeed.”
Sitharaman also said that party President Amit Shah has said that the government is committed to work towards “Make in India”, while the Congress is “Breaking India”.
In Pictures: BJP National Executive Meet
BJP Has Passed an Agriculture Resolution: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Addressing the media after the first day of BJP’s National Executive Meet in New Delhi, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the party has passed an agriculture resolution during the executive meet.
“Prime Minister Modi has taken a pledge to double farm income by 2022,” Chouhan added.
PM Modi to Address Valedictory Session of BJP's National Executive Meet
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing the valedictory session on the second day of the BJP's National Executive Meet in New Delhi on Sunday, 9 September.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar will be addressing a press conference at 12:30 pm.
Rajnath Singh Moves Political Resolution
Home Minister Rajnath Singh moved a political resolution on the second day of BJP's National Executive Meet on Sunday. Titled 'Vision 2022', the resolution praises PM Modi and talks about his vision of 'New India', where there would no poverty and no one would be shelter-less by 2022.
The resolution also talks about the Jan Dhan Yojna, the NRC and the 'Mahagathbandhan'.
Watch: Prakash Javadekar Addresses Media on 2nd Day of BJP National Executive Meet
Addressing the media on the second day of the BJP National Executive Meet, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said:
Ravi Shankar Prasad Addresses Media After BJP National Exec Meet
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday, 9 September addressed the media after the conclusion of the BJP National Executive Meet in New Delhi to announce the key points of PM Modi’s valedictory address.
The PM in his address gave “Ajeya Bharat, Atal Bharat” as the slogan for the 2019 elections, said Prasad.
“PM Modi ji paid tribute to Atal ji and called a powerful phrase in his honour, 'Ajay Bharat, Atal BJP'. An India which is not to be subjugated by anyone and BJP which remains firmly committed to its principle,” said Prasad.
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Published: 08 Sep 2018,10:18 AM IST