The BJP's victory in four out of the five states is a referendum on all future elections, said Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who joined the BJP party workers for celebrations at the party office in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Slamming the opposition and BJP critics, Bommai said the conduct of some political forces had been threatening the unity and security of the country, which had alarmed the common man.
"Today, such forces have been defeated and the common man has won.”
“Our leader Narendra Modi makes every Indian proud as he works round-the- clock and has taken sound measures for the welfare and security of the country. The world takes him seriously, which is evident during the current crisis between Russia and Ukraine. If there is someone who could speak to the heads of both the countries to resolve the crisis through talks, it was our PM, not the US or China," said Bommai.
Stating that the polls had been held amid a global crisis, he said the propaganda against the BJP had failed. "Some predicted a win for Akhilesh Yadav going by the caste equations. Similarly in Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa, they predicted a hung verdict. But the predictions failed and only the Modi-Yogi strategy worked. This is because the people have benefited from all the programmes given by the Modi government in the last seven years. Be it Atmanirbhar, Kisan Samman Yojana, Ujjwala, or Ayushman Bharat, people who have benefited from these schemes will stand with Modi despite all the bad propaganda by the opponents," said Bommai.
"AAP might have won the assembly elections today. But in 2024, BJP will get the highest number of Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. In the Parliament election, the people's choice will be clear as it will be for Modi and the BJP."
The chief minister lauded the efforts of Union ministers Prahlad Joshi and Shobha Karandlaje, BJP national general secretary C.T. Ravi, former chief minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, in securing the victory.
Exhorting the party workers, Bommai said it was time for the party to work hard and ensure that lotus blooms in Karnataka once again.
"Now, our responsibility has only increased and I have directed the officers to issue work orders for all the programmes announced in the budget by April 1. We have to reach out to the common man. The party should reach out to the beneficiaries at the booth level. Today is a day to resolve that our party will not only implement pro-people programmes, but also ensure we come to power in 2023 and form the government to provide good governance for the next five years," said Bommai, adding that the Yediyurappa government and the party workers had done extensive work in Covid management in Karnataka.
"The hard work of our party workers in distributing Covid relief material at the booth level is unparalleled. None can match the strength of our party workers. In Siddaramaiah's constituency, Badami, the Congress party has announced rewards like fridge and TV sets for those who enroll highest number of members. This give-and-take culture is an old habit of the Congress. They are in a bad state. In Uttar Pradesh, lesser said the better about Congress. They made promises to the women in an irresponsible way as they were sure of not winning the elections. The Congress has been sinking everywhere. It will sink in Karnataka next. Imagine the Congress leaders had rushed to Goa to form the government," said Bommai mocking the Congress, indirectly referring to KPCC chief D.K. Shivakumar rushing to Goa ahead of the counting day.
"If BJP is fighting to ensure a secure future for the country, the Congress party is fighting for its own survival. After Gujarat, BJP will certainly win in Karnataka too. We will organise the party under the leadership of Yediyurappa and other senior leaders and tour the state once the ongoing legislature session ends. We will look at growing in strength beyond our existing bastions," said Bommai.
