Abki Bar Phir Modi Sarkar, the theme at BJP National Convention

New Delhi :  Posters, banners and hoardings dotted the stretch to the Ramlila Maidan, the venue of the BJP’s National Convention in the heart of the capital, with “Abki Bar Phir Modi Sarkar” (Modi government again this time) as the party sought to prepare the workers for the battle of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Delegates to the two-day meet which began on Friday also saw hoardings related to the government’s pro-poor schemes and the just-passed quota bill that provides reservation to economically backward upper castes and the enhancing of the minimum support price to farmers.

Chants of “Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” across the Ramlila Maidan electrified as many as 12,000 party workers participating in the mega event.

The hour-long presidential speech of BJP President Amit Shah got the maximum response from the party cadres when he spoke about the Ram temple issue.

“The BJP wants a grand Ram temple to be built at the earliest. We are committed to it,” Shah said, as the audience erupted into dramatic cheers.

The issue charged the workers and compelled Shah to interrupt his speech and chant “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” along with the crowd.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was seen smiling as the audience continued to express its enthusiasm.

Soon after Shah’s presidential speech, breaking security protocol Prime Minister Narendra Modi met some of the BJP office bearers and also shook hands with the party workers.

The event which started with the customary flag hoisting and lighting of lamp also saw a Muslim Shabana Rehman singing the Vande Mataran. She also chanted “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”.

While welcoming Modi, Delhi BJP President Manoj Tiwary offered a shawl and a lotus flower, the party symbol. Modi was seen admiring it.

Many of the party leaders including union ministers later posted their photographs on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag Abki Bar Phir Modi Sarkar. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the BJP’s main slogan was “Abki Bar, Modi Sarkar”.

 Published on: Jan 11, 2019 at 21:36 IST

IANS