NDA allies hail PM Narendra Modi, express confidence in his leadership

NEW DELHI: On a day 39 NDA partners hailed PM Narendra Modi for playing a pivotal role in the ruling alliance’s expected victory and reaffirmed confidence in his leadership, Modi defended the Election Commission and EVMs as he deplored the opposition’s attacks on the constitutional body.
“The opposition is questioning EVMs and has attacked the EC even as the SC has given a clean chit to EVMs four times in the past,” Modi said while addressing NDA leaders. He said the poll process in the country could have been projected as an example for the world but the opposition was hell bent on running down the exercise.
Modi said the NDA had become an organic entity and was like a family. Home minister Rajnath Singh said 36 of the 39 alliance party leaders were present and the three who couldn’t attend conveyed their support to PM’s leadership. The NDA partners also passed a resolution presented by LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan expressing faith in Modi’s leadership. “Based on our track record and vision, the NDA family is sure that people will once again bless PM Modi to lead the nation, which he deserves,” the resolution said.
Endorsing Modi’s leadership, the NDA leaders said, “We resolve that once again under the leadership of PM Modi, by 2022 when India marks 75 years of freedom, it is our endeavour to fulfil the dreams of our freedom fighters and give shape to the strong, prosperous, developed and inclusive India that they dreamt of.”
BJP president Amit Shah and alliance leaders Nitish Kumar, Parkash Singh Badal and Uddhav Thackeray spoke on the occasion and they were unanimous that the 2019 Lok Sabha polls would be a turning point in the country’s electoral history.
Earlier, interacting with the council of ministers in a thanksgiving meeting, Modi maintained that he never had any doubt about NDA’s victory. Expressing satisfaction on the campaign and the response, Modi said, “I felt like being on a pilgrimage while campaigning.”
Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitley, J P Nadda and Prakash Javadekar were among key BJP leaders at the meeting. Some ministers from BJP’s allies, including Paswan, Harsimrat Kaur Badal of Akali Dal and Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal were also present.