As the Central Parliamentary Board of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the party’s highest decision-making body, met here on Saturday for the first time after its impressive win in the Lok Sabha election, the party’s top leaders used the occasion to come together and share the joy of victory.
It was also the day when Narendra Modi, whose election as leader of the BJP’s parliamentary party is now a mere formality, landed in the national capital to a rapturous welcome. Cheering BJP workers and supporters lined the roads as his motorcade made its way from the airport to the party headquarters.
Mr. Modi entered the party headquarters to the blowing of conch shells and a shower of rose petals. He greeted party workers with folded hands and dedicated the party’s strong showing to them.
He met senior leaders and was greeted by the newly elected party MPs from Delhi. The much-awaited moment came when party patriarch L.K. Advani embraced Mr. Modi and offered him flowers and sweets. Mr. Modi greeted his one-time mentor and guide and sought his blessings.
Mr. Advani had initially opposed making Mr. Modi the party’s prime ministerial candidate. However, he called up Mr. Modi on Friday to congratulate him and also suggested that an analytical assessment be made of Mr. Modi’s leadership and his contribution to the victory. BJP president Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Murli Manohar Joshi, Nitin Gadkari and other members of the 12-member parliamentary board offered sweets to Mr. Modi.
