BJP is in for the long haul in power, says Amit Shah

BJP chief Amit Shah calls upon workers to strengthen the party and take it to every part of the country

BJP National President Amit Shah looks at a view of the Upper Lake, after paying obeisance to Raja Bhoj, during his three-day visit to Bhopal on Friday.

BJP president Amit Shah has said his party has not come to power for mere 5 or 10 years, but at least 50 years and called upon workers to strengthen the party and take it to every part of the country.

He was addressing the Madhya Pradesh BJP’s core group members, office-bearers, MPs, MLAs and district chiefs, among others, at the party headquarters here on Friday.

Mr. Shah said that though the BJP appears to be at its peak with a majority government at the Centre and 1,387 MLAs in states, the workers felt the party has still a long way to go.

“Today, we have a majority government at the Centre with 330 MPs, and also have 1,387 MLAs in different states.The party appears to be at its peak, but dedicated workers feel we have a long way ahead,” a BJP release on Saturday quoted Mr. Shah as saying at a meeting with partymen.

“We have not come to power for 5-10 years, but at least 50 years. We should move forward with a conviction that in 40-50 years we have to bring major changes in the country through the medium of power,” Mr. Shah said.

Mr. Shah is in Madhya Pradesh, as part of his 10-day nationwide tour to strengthen and expand the party’s support base ahead of the 2019 general elections. He arrived on friday on a three-day visit to meet BJP workers and office-bearers, besides participating in various programmes.

The BJP president reminded the activists that the party had become a political force to reckon with due to hard work, dedication and sacrifice of its leaders over the years.

Today the BJP has become a party of 10-12 crore members because of many stalwarts who have dedicated their lives in building and strengthening the organisation, said Mr. Shah, according to the release. “We have to ensure no place in the country is left where we don’t have our flag. For this, we have to strengthen the organisation further,” Mr. Shah added.

“Character is the basis of our foundation,” he said, and called upon the BJP workers to ensure the party is present in every (polling) booth, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Kamrup to Kutch.