In an emotional address, Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi thanked the people of Maninagar Assembly constituency in Ahmedabad for their love and the trust they placed in him.
“Maninagar has elected me thrice. I will never forget the love that Maninagar gave me,” he said in an address at a public meeting here on Tuesday, a day before he resigns as Chief Minister and MLA.
“Today, I have been entrusted with a new responsibility. I stand before you in a different role. I have therefore come to take your leave and blessings to be able to fulfil my new responsibility successfully.”
He assured the constituency that it would be taken to new heights of developments despite his absence. Citing an anecdote from history, he narrated how the enterprising Gujarati community of Maninagar convinced the British to build a railway station by agreeing to buy up all train tickets irrespective of commuter traffic. “The development of Maninagar and Ahmedabad east has been a priority. I assure you, wherever I am, this dream of development will be fulfilled.”
The 16th Lok Sabha election was the first in which he was absent in Ahmedabad. “But each one in Gujarat became Narendra Modi and ensured a perfect victory for the BJP, which helped the party’s performance in the country.”
Mr. Modi credited party general secretary Amit Shah for the spectacular performance in Uttar Pradesh. “The Congress was on one side and Mr. Shah’s U.P. was on the other. It is an example of what a Gujarati can do when he goes to a place and is given a responsibility.”
