Dear Friends,
Today marks the culmination of a long
campaign for 2014 Lok Sabha Elections. I addressed my final rally in
Ballia, the land of the hero of 1857 Mangal Pandey, in Eastern UP.
Since September 13th 2013 when
the responsibility of being the BJP’s PM candidate was given to me, I
have been travelling across the length and breadth of India. Friends
in the Party told me that I have addressed rallies and programmes in
almost 5800 locations, covering a distance of over 3 lakh kilometers.
The number of rallies I addressed in this campaign season is 440,
including the Bharat Vijay Rallies that I began with the blessings of
Maa Vaishno Devi on 26th March 2014.
The campaign was a wonderful opportunity
to once again witness India’s celebrated diversity, the vibrancy of the
people and the beauty of our culture. Working for the Organisation I
have travelled across India in the past but this time it was very
different.
The unprecedented blessings I have
received from the people have been very humbling. Conventional wisdom
would suggest such a campaign would be tiring but I am experiencing a
deep satisfaction and freshness that one would feel after a long and
elaborate Sadhna. Through the campaign I got to worship the Janata Janardan.
When I look back at the entire campaign, three words come to my mind – Extensive, Innovative and Satisfying.
Throughout our campaign, we took agenda
of development and good governance to every corner of India. People are
tired of false promises, corruption and the same old tape-recorded
messages ridden with dynastic references only to hide one’s own failure.
They want a better tomorrow and NDA is the only alliance that can
provide this change.
Nothing made me more glad than seeing the
enthusiasm of our Karyakartas! They have worked tirelessly throughout
the campaign. Seeing a rally on TV and social media is one experience
but working on the ground is something out of the world! We do not view
campaigns through the limited prism of electoral victory or defeat. A
campaign becomes a life changing experience for the Karyakartas. It is a
golden opportunity to strengthen and expand the Organisation and
increases the bond between the people and the Karyakartas. Our
Karyakartas went door-to-door and spread the Party’s message and we are
very proud of them. Our campaign is the story of the hardwork of each
and every BJP worker, who has selflessly set out to create a better
India for future generations.
In the entire campaign we received the
continuous support and guidance of the leaders of the Party. We derive
immense strength and inspiration from the solid experience and wisdom of
our leaders and their active participation in the campaign gave us an
impetus and boosted the confidence of Karyakartas.
This campaign will be remembered for path
breaking innovation. In a polity where political campaigns were more
about one-way communication, our Chai Pe Charcha was an innovative break
from the past. Charchas were held in over 4,000 locations across
India. During these Charchas, I sat for hours and heard the views of the
people and then answered their questions on a wide range of issues.
One of the Charchas was held in Wardha (Maharashtra) where I met
families of farmers who had committed suicide. I was really saddened.
After so many years of freedom, our farmers are still ending their lives
even as the present Government watches on silently. For how long can we
let this go on?
Innovation was seen in the Bharat Vijay 3D rallies. In one month I addressed 12 rounds of 3D rallies covering 1350 locations.
The response to the 3D rallies was phenomenal. So many youngsters wrote
to me on mail and social media ‘thanking’ me for coming to their
village. People told our Karyakartas- we want to meet Modi ji on
stage…such was the buzz these rallies generated.
For the first time in the history of Indian electioneering an exclusive volunteer portal was set up in the form of India272+ (http://www.india272.com). All one had to do was log in and begin work either online or by participating in the onground activities. Through India272+ we sought inputs from our volunteers. I was truly enriched by their ideas and contribution. Such forums have the potential to revolutionize campaigning and create a paradigm shift in interfacing and mobilizing well-wishers.
It was amazing how all forms of social
media were innovatively used throughout the campaign. This includes the
ever popular WhatsApp- a lot of friends showed me innovative WhatsApp
messages, campaign slogans and infograhpics that were hugely popular.
After casting my vote I shared my own Selfie and called for your
Selfies. This generated tremendous buzz on social media. I also had a
free and frank interaction with several friends from the print and
electronic media. I was interviewed by the Hindi, Regional and English
media.
I cannot forget the affection I have
received in the last eight months. The events of Patna will remain
etched in my memory- there were live bombs on one side but the resolve
of the people prevailed. Nobody left the venue of the rally. I had a
clear message that day that I repeated often during the campaign- we can
decide whether we want to fight each other or we want to unite to fight
poverty? The former will lead us nowhere while the latter will take our
Nation to greater heights.
Most importantly I wish to thank the
people of India who joined our rallies, 3D events and Charchas in large
numbers. People cutting across all age groups and transcending barriers
of caste, creed or religion joined us. I often said that Narendra Modi
or any one else is not fighting these elections. The people of India
have taken these elections on their shoulders. Each and every citizen of
India has become a driving force of change.
In most places where I addressed rallies,
it was very hot yet people came in record numbers. A few days ago when I
was in Visakhapatnam, it suddenly started raining during the rally. Yet
the people remained. No words will be able to convey my gratitude to
the people. I assure the people of India that I will repay this
overwhelming affection with unprecedented development that will lay the
foundations of a strong India.
The campaign has ended today but one
phase of the Elections remains. I urge all those voting in the final
phase to vote in record numbers, especially the youth. Please go to
vote, take your family and friends to vote. Every vote matters!
As I travelled across India I could
not help but think- there is something in this soil that makes India
special. History is full of examples of how our land has shown the way
to the world and today once again, our destined role of a Jagad Guru
calls us. Let us rise to the occasion and create a strong, developed
& inclusive India that will show the way to the world.
Yours,
Narendra Modi
Source: http://www.narendramodi.in/extensive-innovating-and-satisfying-the-story-of-2014-campaign-2/
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