Electric atmosphere at mega BJP meet
Some women members flaunted their lotus printed saris and salwar kameez. Most of the Sikh members were clad in saffron turban. While some came in kurta pyjama, some preferred their traditional regional outfit
The atmosphere was electric. It was the first time that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing the National Council members after the party’s historic victory in the Lok Sabha election. Members had gathered from across the country. While some came in kurta pyjama, some preferred their traditional regional outfits. Some women members flaunted their lotus printed saris and salwar kameez. Most of the Sikh members were clad in saffron turban. BJP women members from Ladakh were moving around in their traditional headgear called “perak” which was covered with silver ornaments.
From the top the auditorium appeared to be a kaleidoscope of colours. Women members from Himachal wore their colourful head bands, jackets and kurtas. From Tripura, saffron women members came in their “Rinai” — a traditional dress draped around the waist till the knees. Huge lotus cut outs, lotus floor design covered the auditorium.
Cheers went up and slogans “Bharat mata ki jai” rent the air as PM Mr Modi and his trusted lieutenant and newly- elected BJP chief, Amit Shah came on the dais. It was their show and they were the stars. Mr Shah, whose appointment as the BJP chief was ratified in the National Council was presented with coconut and white angvastra by the top leaders. For Mr Modi, Mr Shah, who got the party an unprecedented 71 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh was declared, “man of the match” by the Prime Minister. Of course the “captain of the saffron team, which went to poll to record a historic win was captained by Rajnath Singh.
The centre of stage was hogged by Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, home minister Rajnath Singh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Mr Shah and the old warhorse of the lotus brigade, L. K. Advani. Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay was conducting the saffron show.
Responding to Mr Modi’s call, delegates from southern states had come in droves. Only first week the Prime Minister told the southern party functionaries that the focus should be firm on south Indian states.
With threat perception on the Prime Minister quite, security in the venue was tight. A multilayer ring of security was thrown all around.