The just-concluded national executive and national council meeting of the BJP have brought some more clarity to the question of who will be the party's prime ministerial candidate. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra, who of late emerged as a strong contender for the post after India Inc's open endorsement of his candidature at the Vibrant Gujarat summit, is in no hurry to upset Advani's applecart. Making a strong pitch for LK Advani as the next Prime Minister, Modi said at the national executive meet that what the country was needing was a "strong" leader like the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate and "not like Manmohan Singh whose presence is not felt" despite he occupying the top post.On his part, Advani heaped praises on Modi for his performance as Gujarat Chief Minister. Advani said the party was "proud of Modi's popularity".
"A journalist once asked me if Narendra Modi was becoming larger than the party. I replied that if a family member is becoming more popular than the head of the family, then it is a proud moment for the entire family," Advani said. "The same was once said about (former prime minister Atal Bihari) Vajpayee," Advani added.
BJP meeting has reconciled itself to the possibility of the Congress ultimately fielding Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate. Although Sonia Gandhi has obliquely hinted that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is well qualified to continue for another term, BJP hopes that the the choice may finally fall on Rahul. That is why the BJP tried to draw a comparison between Advani and Rahul. The party affiremd that `brand Advani is more credible than brand Rahul' and said there is no substitute for experience both in governance and delivery.
"Advani's tall stature, maturity and holistic approach is before the people to see. Enthusiastic party cadres are on the job to take to the people, the BJP's message and the choice of Advani for the top post", said a party spokesman after the national council meeting.
Rising cross-border terrorism, adverse fallouts of economic slowdown and construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya form the main poll plank of the BJP.
Though the BJP held the `poor economic management' of the UPA government responsible for the slowdown, the national council failed to come out with an action plan to beat slowdown. Instead, its main focus was on terrorism and Ram temple.
Addressing the national council members, Advani said the continuation of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government posed a "threat to the vital interests of the country". He said the government's soft and compromising approach to cross-border terrorism, further weakened by the virus of votebank considerations, has endangered India's internal security like never before. Advani said the five years of UPA's rule witnessed the "highest number of terrorist incidents and casualties since the onset of terrorism in India in the early 1980s". "Secure in the knowledge that the government in New Delhi has neither the political will nor the clarity of policy to fight terrorism, the enemies of India have felt so emboldened that they mounted one barbaric attack after another," he asserted. The "most audacious assault till date" was the Nov 26 strike in Mumbai and the revelations later showed that it was not a case of intelligence failure but more of a government failure.
The Congress-led governments at the centre and in Maharashtra were sleeping in spite of having full information that the terrorists could use the sea route," he said.
The party leaders expressed the hope that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance would come to power because of the Congress' failure on internal security and "all fronts".
Advani said it was wrong to believe that his party had "returned to Ram" because it had never abandoned the god. "Be it Ram Setu or Ram temple (in Ayodhya), we have never abandoned Ram," Advani said. And he said that the true victory of Ram would be when a "magnificent temple" is constructed in Ayodhya. Aam admi', or the common man, will be the focus of Congress party's campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a massive gathering of the party's district chiefs and grassroots workers at Ramlila Grounds in Delhi on Sunday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said: "The aam admi has been the overriding force of our economic policy. We have worked towards the welfare of farmers, the empowerment of women and welfare of weaker sections."
"We want people to reaffirm faith in the Congress. We are ready, we are prepared, we are confident," Gandhi told the gathering.
Detailing the programmes of the UPA, she said the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme had been very effective and was "historic". "It is improving the lives of the poorest sections". The Right to Information Act has made administration transparent, accountable and enabled participation of people, she said.
She also said the mid day meal scheme was providing nourishment to children and making going to school more attractive. The Sarva Siksha Abhiyan was providing education to children, while the National Rural Health Mission had made healthcare more accessible.
Gandhi said every state, including the opposition National Democratic Alliance-ruled states, had received "unprecedented funding" for developmental activities, which was unlike when the NDA was in power, she added, taking a swipe at the opposition.
She also detailed the government's loan waiver scheme and other welfare schemes for people.
Accusing the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party of not supporting the government in the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sunday said those who want to divide society cannot fight terrorism. Gandhi said that during the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime, "we had stood by the government during the terror attacks. But the same thing cannot be said about the BJP. They disturbed parliament, and delayed formation of important laws regarding fighting terrorism."
Making a reference to the BJP's reiteration of commitment to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya, Gandhi said: "Those who want to divide society, create polarisation on the basis of religion and use the name of Lord Ram are against religion and cannot fight terrorism."
"Terrorism is a big challenge and I want to tell people across the border that they should not mistake our calmness as our weakness, they would be given a befitting answer. We have to fight this (terrorism) unitedly."
Signalling how the party would use the youth cadre, she said: "Today we have to use the experience of senior leaders and the energy of youth. We have many youth in the party, many get the benefit of family background, but many do not. We have to provide opportunity to youth from every section of society."
Detailing the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government's programmes during the past five years, she said workers must highlight these during the election campaign.
"Five years ago, we went to the people on the basis of our pledges. Now, we go to them on the strength of our performance. The aam admi (common man) has been the overriding force of our economic policy. We have worked towards the welfare of farmers, the empowerment of women and welfare of weaker sections."
"We want people to reaffirm faith in the Congress. We are ready, we are prepared, we are confident," Gandhi told the gathering at the Ramlila Ground.
"A journalist once asked me if Narendra Modi was becoming larger than the party. I replied that if a family member is becoming more popular than the head of the family, then it is a proud moment for the entire family," Advani said. "The same was once said about (former prime minister Atal Bihari) Vajpayee," Advani added.
BJP meeting has reconciled itself to the possibility of the Congress ultimately fielding Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate. Although Sonia Gandhi has obliquely hinted that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is well qualified to continue for another term, BJP hopes that the the choice may finally fall on Rahul. That is why the BJP tried to draw a comparison between Advani and Rahul. The party affiremd that `brand Advani is more credible than brand Rahul' and said there is no substitute for experience both in governance and delivery.
"Advani's tall stature, maturity and holistic approach is before the people to see. Enthusiastic party cadres are on the job to take to the people, the BJP's message and the choice of Advani for the top post", said a party spokesman after the national council meeting.
Rising cross-border terrorism, adverse fallouts of economic slowdown and construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya form the main poll plank of the BJP.
Though the BJP held the `poor economic management' of the UPA government responsible for the slowdown, the national council failed to come out with an action plan to beat slowdown. Instead, its main focus was on terrorism and Ram temple.
Addressing the national council members, Advani said the continuation of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government posed a "threat to the vital interests of the country". He said the government's soft and compromising approach to cross-border terrorism, further weakened by the virus of votebank considerations, has endangered India's internal security like never before. Advani said the five years of UPA's rule witnessed the "highest number of terrorist incidents and casualties since the onset of terrorism in India in the early 1980s". "Secure in the knowledge that the government in New Delhi has neither the political will nor the clarity of policy to fight terrorism, the enemies of India have felt so emboldened that they mounted one barbaric attack after another," he asserted. The "most audacious assault till date" was the Nov 26 strike in Mumbai and the revelations later showed that it was not a case of intelligence failure but more of a government failure.
The Congress-led governments at the centre and in Maharashtra were sleeping in spite of having full information that the terrorists could use the sea route," he said.
The party leaders expressed the hope that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance would come to power because of the Congress' failure on internal security and "all fronts".
Advani said it was wrong to believe that his party had "returned to Ram" because it had never abandoned the god. "Be it Ram Setu or Ram temple (in Ayodhya), we have never abandoned Ram," Advani said. And he said that the true victory of Ram would be when a "magnificent temple" is constructed in Ayodhya. Aam admi', or the common man, will be the focus of Congress party's campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a massive gathering of the party's district chiefs and grassroots workers at Ramlila Grounds in Delhi on Sunday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said: "The aam admi has been the overriding force of our economic policy. We have worked towards the welfare of farmers, the empowerment of women and welfare of weaker sections."
"We want people to reaffirm faith in the Congress. We are ready, we are prepared, we are confident," Gandhi told the gathering.
Detailing the programmes of the UPA, she said the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme had been very effective and was "historic". "It is improving the lives of the poorest sections". The Right to Information Act has made administration transparent, accountable and enabled participation of people, she said.
She also said the mid day meal scheme was providing nourishment to children and making going to school more attractive. The Sarva Siksha Abhiyan was providing education to children, while the National Rural Health Mission had made healthcare more accessible.
Gandhi said every state, including the opposition National Democratic Alliance-ruled states, had received "unprecedented funding" for developmental activities, which was unlike when the NDA was in power, she added, taking a swipe at the opposition.
She also detailed the government's loan waiver scheme and other welfare schemes for people.
Accusing the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party of not supporting the government in the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sunday said those who want to divide society cannot fight terrorism. Gandhi said that during the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime, "we had stood by the government during the terror attacks. But the same thing cannot be said about the BJP. They disturbed parliament, and delayed formation of important laws regarding fighting terrorism."
Making a reference to the BJP's reiteration of commitment to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya, Gandhi said: "Those who want to divide society, create polarisation on the basis of religion and use the name of Lord Ram are against religion and cannot fight terrorism."
"Terrorism is a big challenge and I want to tell people across the border that they should not mistake our calmness as our weakness, they would be given a befitting answer. We have to fight this (terrorism) unitedly."
Signalling how the party would use the youth cadre, she said: "Today we have to use the experience of senior leaders and the energy of youth. We have many youth in the party, many get the benefit of family background, but many do not. We have to provide opportunity to youth from every section of society."
Detailing the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government's programmes during the past five years, she said workers must highlight these during the election campaign.
"Five years ago, we went to the people on the basis of our pledges. Now, we go to them on the strength of our performance. The aam admi (common man) has been the overriding force of our economic policy. We have worked towards the welfare of farmers, the empowerment of women and welfare of weaker sections."
"We want people to reaffirm faith in the Congress. We are ready, we are prepared, we are confident," Gandhi told the gathering at the Ramlila Ground.
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