Rajnath all praise for Modi's feats

BJP conclave aims to set tone for ensuing polls

At the inaugural session of the three-day BJP conclave here on Friday, party president Rajnath Singh said the 21st century belongs to the BJP. He exhorted party leaders to work towards achieving this goal in the ensuing elections.

Singh also praised Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for creating a record by coming to power for the third consecutive time.

“If the 20th century was a century of the Congress, let the 21st century be the century of the BJP,” Singh told the 150-odd national executive members, including Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitely and M M Joshi.

Singh recalled that while handing over the party reins to Nitin Gadkari at this NDMC centre in 2009, he had predicted that 2014 would be a favourable year for the BJP. 
Setting the tone for the national meet, Singh said the Congress-led UPA has failed on all fronts, be it economic, political or diplomatic.

The conclave will deliberate on political and economic issues during the open session of the executive council at the Talkatora Stadium here on Saturday. The media was not allowed in Friday’s session.

Party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told the reporters that “the party president accorded a special welcome to Narendra Modi. He has created a new record among the BJP chief ministers by being the first to be re-elected for the third consecutive term with a very convincing majority. All the national executive members also welcomed him.”

Though Modi’s projection as the party’s prime ministerial candidate has been opposed by some BJP leaders, a section of the party wants the Hindutva poster boy at the Centre. In Modi they see a chance to revive the party’s sagging fortunes, which plunged during Nitin Gadkari’s tenure. 

Modi figured a couple of times in Singh’s speech.

Desribing the Union Budget as a “budget of desperation,”  Ravi Shankar Prasad said: “The president also said performance of the BJP-ruled states is being discussed around the world. He made a special mention of Gujarat. That even the European Union is recognising this and despite several campaigns against him, they are trying to build new relations with him.”

Speaking on Modi’s elevation at the Centre, Prasad said: “I think the national president has clarified repeatedly. Let me reiterate it today. Who shall be the prime ministerial candidate of the BJP, the party’s parliamentary board will decide at the appropriate time.”