V for Victory and Vikas, says Modi in poll-bound Gujarat

Riding high on the quadruple wins of BJP in UP, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa, a jubilant PM Narendra Modi on Friday attributed the spectacular electoral victories of BJP to the power of democracy wherein people were voting for development.

"Due to the power of democracy, the BJP retained power in states where governments were hardly elected twice in a row.

This was possible as people are voting for development," Modi said addressing more than a lakh representatives from Panchayati Raj institutions in the state at the Panchayat Mahasammelan organized at GMDC grounds here in the evening.

Coming on the heels of the stupendous victories, Modi's two-day visit to poll-bound Gujarat propelled the state BJP into election mode and charged the party cadres in the state where BJP has been enjoying uninterrupted power for the past 24 years.

"It is now firmly entrenched in the minds of people that the task of people who are voted to power is to ensure development and growth takes place. We will continue with this mantra and ensure that every section of society reaps the benefits of development," said Modi who switched his address between Hindi and Gujarati.

Earlier, Modi was accorded a rapturous welcome as celebrations of victory in four states spilled over onto the streets. Thousands of party workers jubilantly greeted the PM on the 10-km route from the airport to the state BJP headquarters. The road show was marked by the PM donning a new BJP saffron cap and waving victory signs with both hands. He was flanked by state CM Bhupendra Patel and BJP president C R Paatil.

Saffron balloons and flowers flew in the air and slogans of Modi being a global leader rent the air as a group of students who were evacuated from war-torn Ukraine as part of Centre-led `Mission Ganga' participated in the road-show for thanksgiving to the PM.

Modi had a 30-minute chat with party functionaries, MPs and MLAs where he motivated them to pull out all stops for the coming state elections The PM also made a massive rural development push while addressing sarpanch and other panchayat office-bearers.

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, the PM said, "Rural development was Bapu's foremost and most important dream. He believed a strong democracy was possible only if our villages were strong. It is the duty of those who believe in democracy to strengthen rural institutions and systems," Modi said.

Modi said villages need to be self-reliant and gave goals to village representatives for overall development of rural centres including planting 75 trees in every village, farmers taking up natural farming, celebrating school and village birthdays, switching to LED bulbs and conserving water for local use.

Late in the evening, Modi presided over the meeting of Somnath Temple Trust. On Saturday, Modi is scheduled to preside over the convocation of Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) and will inaugurate the Khel Mahakumbh, a mega-event to promote sports locally which was started by Modi when he was CM.