Narendra Modi elected BJP Parliamentary leader, thanks Advani and Vajpayee

Showering lavish praise on Modi for his immense contribution to the BJP's magnificent victory, Singh elaborated on how the party had come out with flying colours across the length and breadth of the country. Read the full speech

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Narendra Modi elected BJP Parliamentary leader, thanks Advani and Vajpayee
Narendra Modi gets emotional

PM-elect Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, "Had there been a hung Parliament, this would have been a vote against the ruling Congress. But the kind of majority we have got shows it is a vote for us, not against them."

Veteran BJP leader LK Advani hugs Narendra Modi(left) upon being elected BJP Parliamentary Party leader.
Veteran BJP leader LK Advani hugs Narendra Modi(left) upon being elected BJP Parliamentary Party leader.

The newly-elected BJP members of Parliament met at the historic Central Hall to elect their leader of its parliamentary group on Tuesday. Senior leader and former deputy prime minister LK Advani proposed Narendra Modi's name which was seconded by senior leaders Murli Manohar Joshi, Sushma Swaraj, M Venkaiah Naidu, Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and others.

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Speaking on the occasion, Modi said, "I am grateful to all the party leaders for the immense support and blessings he [Modi] has got." Modi got emotional while making a mention of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said he wished he had been keeping well and present there on the occasion.

Modi said the massive victory the BJP has got leaves its leaders with a lot of responsibility. "A position is not always important. The service to the nation is," he added.

Narendra Modi
India's next prime minister and BJP leader Narendra Modi, bends down with folded hands on the steps of Parliament building as a sign of respect as he arrives for the BJP parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday.

"When Rajnath Singh decided that I would lead the BJP campaign, I started working towards the end immediately," he said. "People asked me if I was tired. I told them 'no'. This is my ultimate test," he said.

The PM-elect said, "If I have failed to reach anywhere and campaign for any member sitting here, I apologise for this but not regret it since you have reached me now." Modi paid obeisance to the people who fought for Independence and "those who gave us our Constitution".

"It was the strength of this Constitution that a common man like me is here today," Modi said.

Modi said, "The net gain of this poll is not somebody's defeat or our victory but that it has given the common man a new confidence. It has given them a new hope."

"The new government is dedicated to the poor of the country, its youth and its women. The government is for their hopes and aspirations."

Modi broke down at the mention of Adavni and said the senior leader "should not have used the word "kripa" (oblige) while making a mention of my contribution". "A son cannot do 'kripa' to his mother. Like the country, my party is also my mother," he said, regaining composure after being provided with a glass of water.

Earlier, party president Rajnath Singh said that Modi, who bowed before entering the hall, was visiting the Central Hall for the first time. Speaking on the occasion, Singh also remembered the party icons Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Pt. Deen Dayal Udhadhyay.

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Showering lavish praise on Modi for his immense contribution to the BJP's magnificent victory, Singh elaborated on how the party had come out with flying colours across the length and breadth of the country. He said the BJP had made inroads and won seats in places like Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

Maintaining that the political rivals tried their best to divert people's attention from core problems the country faced to unimportant things, Singh said, "I credit the people for not allowing the focus to move away from a positive agenda."

Speaking on the occasion, Advani said the occasion is historic and will be etched in people's memory. An emotional Advani said that he agrees that this historic victory of the party led by Modi is a historic occasion.

Advani said that he being an emotional person has cried on all the historic occasions, like the country's Independence, the Emergency and the present victory of the party led by Modi. Advani said the kind of mandate that we have got this time is unprecedented and leaves us burdened with responsibility.

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Modi is expected to meet President Pranab Mukherjee later in the day to stake claim for government formation.

Read: Narendra Modi's full speech

"I accept the responsibility you have reposed in me. You will never get an opportunity to look down on what my government will do," he said in a 30-minute speech after he was unanimously elected the leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party by the newly-elected Lok Sabha members and those of Rajya Sabha.

A new hope has arisen in the common man. This is the biggest significance of this election results. At the end of the day for whom is the government? It is for the poor.

"The new government will dedicate itself for the poor, crores and crores of youth and for the safety and security of the mothers and sisters, those in the rural areas, oppressed and the deprived," he said.

Referring to the nature of the verdict, he said if it had been a hung or a fractured verdict then one can say that people had vented their anger against the government and that it was anti-establishment.

"But by giving BJP an absolute majority they have voted for hope and trust. People have voted for hope and faith. and I will do everything to fulfil their aspirations," he said, adding that he is a man full of optimism.

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There should be no room for pessimism and because with pessimism nothing can be achieved.

Recollecting an earlier speech of his, he said his government's motto will be with everyone and for everyone's development. "This is the time for new hope and strength."

Modi said in 2019 he will meet the MPs again with a report card. My government is not for myself but for the country. The government is for the poor and we want to do something for them, he said.

"I will strive my best to fulfil the responsibility you have reposed in me. You will never have to look down on the work it will do."

The PM-to be also took the opportunity to praise the work of the past governments, saying every government and its leaders have contributed to the welfare of the country and we will carry forward whatever good they have done.

Invoking former PM and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Modi said it would have been an icing on the cake had the ailing leader been present among them on Tuesday.

As BJP leaders clapped and cheered, he said an era of responsibility has begun as people had high expectations from them.

During his acceptance speech, 63-year-old Modi broke down when he referred to L K Advani's mention that he had done favour to the party by taking up the responsibility.

"Can serving the mother be a favour? A son is only dedicated to serve the mother....The favour has been done by the party," he said addressing the newly-elected MPs of the party in the historic Central Hall of Parliament.

Referring to his humble background, Modi said it was an ode to Indian democracy and its founding fathers that he was standing there, all set to be the new PM.

He asked party MPs to work with all purity not for designations but for the people of the country. "We are here in the temple of democracy. We will work with all purity...

not for the designation but the people of the country. Work and responsibility are the biggest things."

Recalling his hectic campaign, he said every speck of his body and every moment of his time was dedicated to fulfil the responsibility Bharatiya Janata Party had given by making him its prime ministerial candidate on September 13 last year.

Modi said he reported to party president Rajnath Singh after the campaigning for the elections was over on May 10 and will similarly report to MPs, party and the country about the work of his government in 2019.

"I want to assure people that there is no need for pessimism and they should not go by the past bad experience.

The country has huge potential. If all countrymen take one step, the nation can move forward by 125 crore steps," he said.

It was for the first time he entered the Central Hall of Parliament and he recalled that he had seen the CM's office and a state Assembly for the first time after he was made the Chief Minister of western Indian state Gujarat in 2001.