Addressing BJP workers at a thanksgiving programme on Wednesday following the electoral victory in Bihar and various bypolls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attributed 'development' as the primary reason for the party's victory.
Prime Minister also credited women for powering the BJP's political fortunes as its 'silent voters'. Modi said that women across the country have become the biggest group of silent supporters that keep voting the BJP back into power.
He further added that women-centric schemes and programmes launched by the NDA government ensured support for them in all elections across the country.
Modi said, 'I saw many people on television and in newspapers talk about 'silent voters'. The echo of these 'silent voters' must be ringing in everyone's ears today. Women have become the biggest group of silent supporters of the BJP.'
Modi said that the results of the Bihar assembly polls and bypolls across states have proved that 'development' will be the only basis for politics and people will now support only those who work honestly for development.
Modi also lauded the party's performance during the bypolls in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Ladakh, Telangana, Kutch and Manipur, the results of which were declared on Tuesday. In Gujarat, the BJP had woman all assembly bypolls whereas in Madhya Pradesh, where Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been in power for over 15 years now, most of the bypolls were won by the BJP.
PM Modi also attributed the NDA's win in Bihar to its mantra of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas' while praising BJP national chief JP Nadda for the party's victory. Modi further stated that it was under Nitish Kumar's leadership that development and progress had been made in Bihar.
Modi launched a veiled attack on the West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress, saying those who cannot challenge the party democratically have resorted to 'murdering' its party workers to realise their goals
'Those who cannot challenge us electorally have resorted to killing our party workers. They think that by killing our workers they will realise their dreams (of retaining power),' he said, adding that no one could win votes by committing murders. 'They should read the writing on the wall,' he said.
The prime minister thanked and praised the Election Commission, security forces and administration for peaceful and successful conduct of elections amid tough and challenging times. He also thanked the voters for showing their trust in the BJP.