GUJARAT BJP MLAS GIVE STANDING OVATION TO MODI
Wednesday, 14 May 2014 | Nayan Dave | GANDHINGAR
In a first ever meeting of Gujarat BJP MLAs after the longest ever Lok Sabha polls, the saffron party’s legislatures gave a standing ovation to their leader, Narendra Modi for his mammoth efforts to lead the party’s most successful poll campaign.
Apart from 117 BJP MLAs, senior Gujarat BJP functionaries including Gujarat BJP president RC Faldu, State party in-charge Om Mathur, in-charge of State BJP election campaign committee Parshotam Rupala and others also remained present in the meeting.
Lots of excitement was created among BJP MLAs, party cadre and media fraternity ahead of the meeting on the declaration of Modi’s successor. Though State Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel is believed to become the first ever woman Chief Minister of Gujarat, names of other senior BJP leaders are also being discussed.
Apart from Modi’s close aide Amit Shah, senior Ministers like Nitin Patel and Saurabh Patel are also believed to be in the race. The issue became important after a senior leader of the party Bhikhubhai Dalsania threw his hat in the ring for chief ministership. Bhikhubhai, who was functioning as the link between the executive and the organisational wings of the State BJP and had played very important roles in the selection of the candidates for the general elections, was believed to have been backed by the RSS to succeed Modi in the State.
When the meeting started, against all expectations, the Gujarat Chief Minister talked about upcoming annual events of the State Government – Krishi Mahotsav (Agriculture Fair) and Kanya Kelavani Zumbesh (Girl-child Education Drive). Modi also insisted his colleagues to participate for the noble cause.
While talking to mediapersons, Gujarat BJP general secretary and spokesman Vijay Rupani said that no discussion on the successor of Narendra Modi took place during the meeting. “Decision on the new Chief Minister will be taken only after the poll result by the party’s central parliamentary board. Focus of the meeting was on Krishi Mela and Kanya Kelavani drive,” Rupani added.
He said that personally he thought Modi would take rest after the months long election campaign on national scale, but the Gujarat CM straight away started work and toll the stalk of the State’s water situation.
On Modi’s successor, Gujarat BJP in-charge Mathur said that there is a system in the party and decision would be taken at an appropriate time. “Such decisions are not taken haphazardly. This party doesn’t belong to one family or person,” he added.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/gujarat-bjp-mlas-give-standing-ovation-to-modi.html
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MODI’S POLL CAMPAIGN MAKES A MARK AFTER 5 LAKH KM OF TRAVELING
With his Robertsganj rally in Uttar Pradesh, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s massive election campaign completed on Saturday. Besides travelling for more than 5,00,000 km across the length and breadth of the country, he made the election campaign unique by using 3-D hologram technology and social media.
The Gujarat Chief Minister was declared the prime ministerial candidate of the saffron party on September 13, 2013. He initiated poll campaign for the 2014 Lok Sabha election on September 15 by addressing ex-Armymen’s rally at Revari in Haryana. Since then, he didn’t take break and continued extensive travelling across the country till May 10, 2014.
“He (Modi) created an atmosphere not only for his party, but also for the NDA allies by travelling 25 States, that too more than once in every State, during his aggressive campaign. He utilised three choppers and two Jets to save time and reach out distant places. Despite extensive travelling of more than 5 lakh kilometers in nearly 8 months, accurate planning and organizational skill of ‘Team Modi’ was unmatched,” said a source closely associated with Modi’s campaigning activities.
Modi was strategically declared BJP’s prime ministerial candidate ahead of the assembly elections in Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In the initial phase he concentrated on these four states, he said adding, “The Assembly elections were semi-final prior to 2014 general elections. For Modi, it was also a litmus test. When the results came, Modi effect was visible. While the BJP could retain power in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, it bounced back in power in Rajasthan. Even in Delhi, the saffron party emerged as the biggest party.”
Even after the Assembly elections, he didn’t waste a single day and continue addressing one rally after another, that too of 2 to 5 lakh people. Till the last week of March, he did 38 big rallies in 21 states. On March 26th, 2014 after taking blessings of Mata Vaishnodevi in Jammu, he took campaigning in top gear and roamed around 25 States and addressed 196 rallies at different locations.
If that was not enough, he decided to address 3-D Hologram rallies from the third week of April. From April 11 to May 10, he completed nearly 12oo 3-D hologram rallies in 91 places. He also utilised technology to answer Congress leader Manishanker Iyer’s Chaiwala jibe on him. From February to March, four rounds of Chai pe Charcha campaign were held in 4,000 different locations. This campaign was not limited to India, but Chai pe Charcha was conducted in 50 locations of 15 different countries.
“From September 13 to May 10, Modi reached to crores of people through 38 initial rallies, 194 ‘Bharat Vijay Vishwas Rallies’, 241 other rallies, 1,200 3-D rallies, four rounds and 4,000 locations of Chai pe Charcha and three road-shows in Vadodara and Varanasi,” he added.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/sunday-edition/sunday-pioneer/nation/modis-poll-campaign-makes-a-mark-after-5-lakh-km-of-traveling.html
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ALL GUJARAT POLITICIANS HEAD TO VARANASI
Tuesday, 06 May 2014 | Nayan Dave | GANDHINAGAR
Party line doesn't matter here when it comes to Varanasi. Supporters of major political parties in Gujarat are literally making beeline for the holy town! Irrespective of their political alignments, they are thronging to Kashi for one common factor — Narendra Modi, BJP's prime ministerial candidate, who is contesting from Varanasi. Albeit, purposes are different — some are going to campaign for Modi and rest against him.
With polling in Gujarat concluded on April 30, BJP cadres opted for 2-3 days rest and many of them decided to camp at Varanasi to ensure Modi's victory with a huge margin. Gujarat Congress leaders are also on a mission and started heading for 'Kashi' to counter the Gujarat Chief Minister. Even Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers have gone there to support their leader -- Arvind Kejriwal, who is contesting against Modi.
“Air fare from Ahmedabad to Varanasi has touched `25,000. Generally it hovers around `4,000 to `8,000 for Ahmedabad-Delhi-Varanasi flight. But unprecedented demand led to spurt in air fare. Elections coupled with vacation period, train tickets are not available,” says a travel agent.
Top Gujarat BJP leaders, including general secretary Vijay Rupani, Rajya Sabha member Parshotam Rupala, organisational general secretary Bhikhu Dalasania, Gujarat BJP spokesman IK Jadeja and others are already involved in campaigning activities in the UP town.
Congress candidate from Vadodara and All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Madhusudan Mistry has also decided to fly to UP. Mistry is also his party's in-charge for Uttar Pradesh. He has handpicked nearly two dozen Congress workers to campaign against Modi in Varanasi.
Nearly 250 AAP workers, including Ahmedabad East Lok Sabha candidate Dinesh Vaghela, reached to Varanasi, said Harshil Nayak, Gujarat AAP media in-charge. Nearly 500 more workers are planning to reach there in 3-4 days.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/all-gujarat-politicians-head-to-varanasi.html
