Hours before the campaign to the most bitterly fought elections came to an end, Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined his party president Amit Shah as the latter addressed a press conference. Anticipation grew as there was no prior announcement of Modi joining the presser, which many thought could be his first press conference in five years. Modi spoke briefly about his campaign, but only Shah took the questions.
“I am a disciplined party worker, for us the party president is everything,” Modi said pointing towards Shah as a question was aimed at the PM.
Arriving straight from addressing his last public meeting in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh, Modi said the country had already decided to re-elect a government with a full majority. “Its happening after a long time,” prime minister said as Shah whispered “after 1975”.
Interestingly, as Modi and Shah were present in the party headquarters before the media, Congress president Rahul Gandhi was addressing a press conference at his party headquarters. Gandhi attacked Modi on refraining from answering questions on the Rafale deal. “Now that the prime minister is doing a live press conference, I want to ask him (Modi), why didn't you debate with me on Rafale? I had challenged you for a debate, tell the press why didn't you debate,” Gandhi said in his presser.
It was Shah who answered on Rafale deal as question was posed to him. “The PM need not answer every question. I have already answered. There is no basis for that allegation. All the corruption allegations against the Congress were generated either through CAG or Supreme Court ordered probe, or CBI investigated. Even the country's defence minister had said everything on the issue inside the Parliament in detail. But Rahul Gandhi was not there to listen,” Shah said.
Shah had said a few minutes earlier, “If Rahul Gandhi had any evidence he should have presented it to the courts. No favourtism or corruption was there in the deal.”
In his address, Modi said that exactly five years ago (May 17)—a day after the results were declared on May 16—there was a big casualty in the country. “People who play satta (gamble) had lost crores that day as Modi registered his presence. The satta bazaar was predicting 150 seats for the Congress, and 218 seats for the BJP. But everyone lost their money,” Modi said. Modi's comment appeared to be an oblique reference to some exit polls or analysis which are suggesting that the BJP may fall short of majority.
“We have said a lot in the manifesto, we want to start at the earliest, as the country has already made up their mind about re-electing the government,” Modi said exuding confidence.
Shah said action has been taken against those BJP leaders who spoke against Mahatma Gandhi. Showcause notice was issued to them and action will be taken by the disciplinary committee after their reply.
Reacting to a query if fielding Pragya Thakur was a mistake as she spoke against Hemant Karkare and Mahatma Gandhi, Shah said she was made a candidate to fight those who brought in fake charges of saffron terror.
The BJP chief said the issue was development and party leaders had reacted to political attacks. “But because of your TRP you focussed only on those statement which were answers to opponents. If you take speech of any leader. Out of 40 minutes, all leaders spoke on development for 35 minutes, but a few minutes on political attack.”
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Shah also accused Mamata Banerjee of inciting violence against the BJP cadres. “Our 80 party workers were killed, questions should be posed to her for such violence,” Shah sternly.
Shah said the country has reposed faith in the “Narendra Modi experiment” that was started five years ago.
Behind the BJP's aggressive campaign across the country, Shah gave out figures on how the saffron party's war machinery was at work. Out of over 10 lakhs booths in the country, the BJP had made panels managing over 8.6 lakhs booths; over 400 intellectual programmes were held, four programmes were held in each of the 3,800 assemblies in the country. 161 call centres were set up in the country, one each for two Lok Sabha seats to speak to the people, primarily the beneficiaries of the central government schemes. In these call centres over 15,000 people were working who managed to contact 24 crore beneficiaries, Shah said.
Both Modi and Shah took lead in addressing rallies during this campaign. Modi addressed 142 rallies, four road shows. Over 1.5 crore people participated in these rallies, Shah said. He added Modi covered over 1.05 lakh kilometers during this campaign, addressing rallies in areas where temperature soared even to 46 degrees, the BJP chief added.
Modi said none of his programme was cancelled during such a hectic campaign.
Shah addressed 161 rallies and 18 road shows covereing over 1.5 lakh kilometers. More than 1,500 rallies were addresed by the BJP's central leaders.
But Modi would still be in action even as the last phase of polling is on May 19. He will be in Badrinath and Kedarnath for two days to pay obeisance at the Hindu shrines. Varanasi will also go to polls in the last phase.