The entrance was televised like a US Presidential victory – Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, both dressed in the political uniform of churidhar-kurta, with the ‘Modi Kurta’ on top. Both of them waving to the celebrating audience, waving the victory symbol, as chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ rang through the air. The duo, equals in their massive victory, walked up to the stage at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi. And already, a posse of party leaders was waiting to welcome them: Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Shivraj Chouhan, JP Nadda among others.
But before he reached the stage, Narendra Modi garlanded the busts of the founders of BJP, and then walked across the lawn to the stage to cheers and sloganeering. And as he walked onto the stage, his party colleagues felicitated him with a saffron and green garland.
The build-up is justified, considering this is BJP’s biggest victory yet in their history.
Speaking first, Amit Shah invoked Bharat Mata, followed by a litany of praises for PM Narendra Modi. “This is the most historic victory in independent India, that the BJP has achieved under the leadership of Narendra Modi,” Amit Shah said, thanking the people of India for their victory, “This is a victory for the popularity of Narendra Modi.”
“For the first time in 50 years, a Prime Minister with an absolute majority is winning an absolute majority for the second time,” Amit Shah said. “In 17 states, people have given us a mandate of more than 50%. In 17 units, the Congress has won zero seats.”
Narendra Modi spoke soon after, to cheers from the crowd. “Crores of citizens of this country have filled the jhola of this fakir,” the Prime Minister said at his victory rally, “This is the biggest event in the history of democracy in the world. The country got freedom, there were so many Lok Sabha elections held – and yet, the maximum voter turnout was in this election. That too, in the midst of rising temperatures. This itself shows the awareness of the citizens of India towards democracy. The world has to register this. The world has to recognise the democratic power of India.”
“In this festival of democracy, for the sake of democracy, the people who have made sacrifices and have been injured – my condolences to the families of these people. In the history of democracy, to die for democracy, will be an example and will inspire the coming generations,” he said.
Congratulating the Election Commission and security forces across the country, Modi said, “When the Mahabharatha war ended, Sri Krishna was asked, whose side were you on? I believe what Krishna’s answer back then is the answer that Hindustan’s 1.3 crore citizens have given today. “I was not on anyone’s side, I was only on the side of Hastinapur”. Today, 1.3 crore citizens were standing for Bharat.”
“If someone has won today, it is Hindustan. If someone has won today, it is democracy. If someone has won today, it is the janata janardhan,” Modi declared.
He also said that with this mandate, the people of India had set a new narrative in motion. "Now there are only two jaatis (castes) in India - the poor, and those who work to elevate them from poverty," Modi said.
He reiterated a few times that the Constitution is supreme, and it was important to be inclusive going forward. "[Include] even those who oppose us," he stated.
Concluding his address, he made three promises, and said that the people of the country should hold him to them. "In the coming days, I will not do anything with ill will. I may make a mistake, but I won't do anything with ill will. Secondly, I will not do anything with selfish interest. Thirdly, every second of my time, every fibre of my being is for my country's citizens. Hold me to these three promises. Criticize me if I don't do my job well. I will do my best to fulfill what I have promised to you all."
The BJP won a landslide victory in the General Elections, winning 302 by itself – much more than their 2014 wave win of 282. Their alliance NDA meanwhile has won 352 seats out of 542 in the Lok Sabha – more than their tally of 336 in 2014. In Uttar Pradesh alone, the BJP has won 54 seats. Meanwhile, rivals Congress managed to put together just 51 seats – seven more than their 2014 tally of 44.