Striking an emotional chord with voters and invoking the sentiment of nationalism, BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi dedicated every fibre of his body and every iota of his time to the service of the country.
“I am mazdoor [labourer]number one,” Mr. Modi said, addressing his first victory rally in Vadodara, where he posted a thumping victory with a record margin of 5.6 lakh votes in general elections.
“Does anyone doubt my ability to work hard? I have been an exemplary labourer. Even my opponents do not contest my ability for toil. I got the opportunity to be Gujarat’s chief minister four times. I never took vacations, because I believe in the responsibility the people gave me. I will dedicate every part of my body and every bit of my time to the service of the 125 crore people of India,” Mr. Modi said.
Differentiating between running a government and running a country, Mr. Modi said the National Democratic Alliance had the full majority to the government, but to run a country they needed the support of all the parties.
“There are no enemies in politics and democracy, only competitors. That’s the beauty of democracy. The strength of democracy lies in taking everyone together. Despite a clear mandate we want to keep everyone together,” he said.
The “DNA” of his “work culture” was “sabka saath, sabka vikas [support and development of all],” Mr. Modi said.
Resolving to strive for the welfare of the country, Mr. Modi said, “You trust me. I trust you.”
On NDA’s stupendous victory, Mr. Modi said the BJP was the first party after the Congress to get a “pure majority”.
“Since independence, the Congress and Congress-led government’s have come to power. In the case of non-Congress government, they have been a coalition of several parties, like the Janata Party. This is the first time a party with an ideological basis and nationalistic outlook has got a pure majority,” he said.
Mr. Modi thanked and saluted the people of Vadodara for handing him a record win, despite the fact that he could give only 50 minutes to the constituency. In Varanasi, the people had endorsed his “silence”, he said.
